A BOASTFUL firestarter set a blaze in a Greenock tenement close causing it to fill with choking black smoke — then asked a resident to ‘come have a look’.

Dean Footit sparked a major 999 alert after torching a lawnmower at the rear of the ground floor of the South Street property, to the danger of people living there.

The 22-year-old — who was on bail for another criminal matter — committed the night time offence when he should have been at home on a strict court-ordered curfew.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife told the sheriff court: “A witness who resides there saw the accused exit the common close.

“The accused asked him what the time was and then said, ‘Do you know there’s a fire in the close — want to come have a look?’.

“The man immediately went upstairs to his own flat and phoned the fire brigade. All of the flats are occupied.” The court heard that significant damage was only averted when the owner of the blazing lawnmower rushed from his flat and pushed it out of the rear doors before throwing a bucket of water over it.

Firefighters made sure that the flames were fully extinguished by blasting the £80 mower with a hosereel jet.

Fiscal depute Ms Scaife said: “The close was full of smoke and a positive pressure ventilation fan had to be used to remove the smoke.

“Following a trawl of CCTV footage the accused was later apprehended. He had sustained a burn to one of his hands.” Footit was also indicted on charges of wilfully setting fire to rubbish in another common close on South Street and shouting, swearing, punching and kicking doors and threatening violence — but his not guilty pleas to these allegations were accepted by the Crown.

He was ordered to go on an alcohol treatment programme last year after committing three breaches of the peace in Greenock’s Nelson Street — plus an instance of being found inside a BIN.

In April this year a sheriff told him to behave and get a job after he and a pal sparked two police call-outs after creating havoc at an engagement party in a flat.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: “He is a single man who ordinarily resides with his mother, who is in poor health.

“He has problems with overindulgence in alcohol, coupled with valium.

“This was one occasion when he had taken both and he has very little recollection of the matter.

“As a result he required to be advised of the evidence in this case.” Mr Gallagher added: “If given the opportunity, he would apologise for his actions. He is very remorseful.

“Mr Footit appreciates the potential consequences of what he did.” Sheriff Ian Fleming returned Footit to prison for an unexpired 135-day portion of a previous sentence and jailed him for a further consecutive eight months and 15 days.

He told him: “This is a very serious matter. There is no option here other than prison.”