A JUDGE has taken the unusual step of admonishing an 84-year-old Girvan man who torched his home with petrol because he could not cope with his partner’s failing health.

Lady Rae told Sydney Gallway that it was a “very serious offence, putting others at risk of death including yourself” but said it was the “only proper disposal”.

Galloway and his 84-year-old partner Margaret Leadbetter had to be rescued by firefighters as flames licked through the house.

As Galloway was taken through the front door, the roof began to collapse and burning embers fell on him.

He later confessed to medical staff that he had started the fire.

Prosecutor Allan Nicol said: “He explained that he was under pressure with Mrs Leadbetter’s worsening condition and was struggling to cope. He also said he wanted to die and take her with him.”

At the High Court in Glasgow, Galloway admitted wilfully setting the fire at 1777 Dalrymple Street, Girvan, on November 26, to the danger of the life of his partner of 25 years Margaret Leadbetter, who is also 84.

The judge said: “I have already indicated that in this particular case, despite the serious nature of the offence, custody is not the right route and would not serve justice, in particular circumstances put before me.

“I have thought very carefully about what alternatives are available to me but I have to have regard to your particular personal circumstances.”

She added: “In the very unusual circumstances of this case in my view the proper disposal is an admonition. You are free to go.”

Mr Nicol previously told the the court that Galloway put timber and furniture behind an inner door of the house and then poured petrol in the living room and hallway and lit a match.

Galloway, who had earlier taken five sleeping tablets and some whisky, then went to bed.

The blaze was spotted at 7am by a paper boy who saw smoke coming from the house and called the fire brigade.

The teenager also flagged down a couple of passing motorists who knocked on the door and got no reply.

They eventually managed to force their way in through the outside door, but found an inner front door hallway blocked.

The court heard that when police spoke to Mrs Leadbetter she was confused and unable to recall anything about the incident.

Mrs Leadbetter’s daughter Margaret Lobben told police that she was worried about her mother’s increasing frailty She said she visited her weekly and formed the impression that Galloway was struggling to cope, but said he did not want help.

During a police interview, Galloway said that he was struggling to cope with looking after Mrs Leadbetter and doing all the household tasks.

He said: “I doused the living room and hallway with petrol and set it alight using a match.

“Before I’d set it on fire I took sleeping tablets. Maybe about five or that and a good half tumbler of whisky. It was enough to make me do what I done.

He said he barricaded the front door using furniture so that no one could enter the house. He said he wanted to kill himself, but did not want to kill his partner, although he knew she was in the house at the time.

Galloway added: “Margaret wasn’t even on my mind, funny enough you know, because she is the most important person as far as I was concerned.”

He was asked if he intended to kill Mrs Leadbetter and replied: “no, no no.”

Mrs Leadbetter sustained minor burns in the fire, but after a fall in Glasgow Royal Infirmary she broke her hip.

Galloway had burns to his back, buttocks and both feet.

Lady Rae had earlier deferred sentence for reports.

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan said the case was “extraordinary and unrepeatable”.

He told the court that Galloway’s actions “brought to an end that relationship”.

Mr Lenehan added that his client knows the seriousness of what happened.