A homeless man who was described as “a poor man’s Bear Grylls” has been jailed after he admitted setting a barn on fire within the grounds of a prestigious Scottish estate.
Kenneth Coleman, 48, set fire to a large pile of wood chips causing the wooden building to burn down at the Dalmeny House Estate near South Queensferry on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
At its peak, the fire was around “25 feet wide and 30 feet deep,” according to information provided to Edinburgh Sheriff Court. It was situated near a biomass boiler and a gas supply.
Coleman, who had been rough-housing on the estate grounds, also started a second fire by setting logs and wooden pallets on fire near a listed building.
When two estate workers contested him, the court heard Coleman vowed to stab one of the men and called for a brawl.
The 7th Earl and Countess of Rosebery reside in Dalmeny House and Estate, with the main house being a protected Category A listed structure.
Coleman entered the capital last week after being detained, and he entered a guilty plea on charges of starting two fires, holding a kitchen knife, and acting aggressively on August 13 of last year at the estate.
Within the boundaries of the Category B classified Leuchold House, witnesses saw a blaze on the property that contained “a number of items from the estate,” according to prosecutor Gillian Koren, who testified in court. Coleman was spotted close by, and the workers called the police once they had put out the fire.
Later on in the evening, according to Ms. Koren, an estate manager was driving around the property when he noticed “a large pile of wood chips on fire” inside the barn and “smelled smoke.” The barn was destroyed, and the court was informed that the massive fire was started near a biomass fat boiler and a gas supply.
After calling the emergency services, Coleman yelled at the workers, “useless pr***s,” and “chill out, it’s just a fire.” Coleman allegedly said, “I couldn’t give a f*** if you died in your beds,” and threatened to stab one of the men during the altercation, according to testimony given to the court. After that, he fled into the estate’s grounds, where he was eventually found by
According to defence counsel Ross Gardner, his client “often started fires without incident” and had been “living rough on the estate for a period of time.” “Some have described him as ‘a poor man’s Bear Grylls,’ but I don’t really see that as the case,” stated Mr. Gardner.
Coleman doesn’t choose to live a tough life, according to the attorney, and he has “mental health difficulties.”
“Mr. Coleman, you will be aware given the offences you have pled to and given your criminal record, I have no choice but to impose a custodial sentence,” Sheriff Wendy Sheehan stated. Coleman was detained by the sheriff for a total of 14 months.
Coleman also received a six-month prison sentence for breaking into Dalmeny House three years prior and starting a fire in the Courtyard Room of the A-listed structure. On November 18, 2020, police discovered him sleeping in the boiler chamber of the 18th-century manor house after he had left the fire blazing.
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