A TEENAGE firestarter who torched a vehicle next to a Greenock petrol station is set to be sentenced at the sheriff court.

Robert Strachan appeared in the dock at the town's sheriff court last week to plead guilty to one indictment charge.

Strachan admitted setting a Renault Kangoo van alight on Roslin Street, in close proximity to the Tesco filling station shortly after midnight.

He committed the offence on September 10, 2021.

The blaze took hold and damaged the vehicle and Strachan was later found by police officers 'covered in soot', the court was told.

A procurator fiscal depute said: "At around 12.05am, a witness was working at the Tesco fuel station on Laird Street and observed smoke coming from a vehicle nearby.

"The witness contacted police.

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"The accused was apprehended near to the now burnt out vehicle.

"He was observed to be intoxicated and covered in soot."

First offender Strachan, now aged 21, of Antigua Street, who was in his late teens at the time of the offence, has no other criminal matters pending, according to solicitor Amy Spencer.

Sheriff James Varney told him: "Given the nature of this particular offence it could attract a custodial sentence straight away.

"However, given your age I need to consider an alternative.

"Be under no illusions that all options are open to me in terms of disposing of this matter."

Sentence was deferred until May 3 for a criminal justice social work background report to be prepared.

Strachan's bail order was continued meantime.