Man jailed for attempted murder after dropping flare in letterbox

A man who put a lit flare through the letterbox of a home in the Highlands while a woman was sleeping inside has been jailed for 11 years.

David Macgregor, 46, carried out the attack in Wick, Caithness, on 3 May 2021.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard it was fortunate that the woman's smoke alarm activated and she was able to get out.

Macgregor, of Wick, had denied attempting to murder the woman but was convicted of the offence following a trial.

Judge Norman McFadyen said the crime was committed at a time when any inhabitant of the property would be expected to be asleep.

He told Macgregor: "This was a shockingly deliberate act."

The court heard he had an extensive record of offending and was on bail at the time.

Judge McFadyen said: "This is by far the most serious offence."

Defence counsel Colin Neilson said Macgregor's record appeared to reflect drug abuse but there were no prior convictions for violence and added: "This offence would appear to be out of character."