Drunk threatened to set his blind mother on fire

May 15 2009

A BOOZED-UP brute grabbed his blind, invalid mother by the throat and threatened to set her on fire.

Stephen Ferguson, 27, of Braeside, Catrine, carried out the “revolting” attack after his mother, Marion Allan, ticked him off for drinking in the afternoon.

Ms Allan, who is virtually housebound contacted Ferguson on his mobile phone and asked him to go to the local shops for her.

Depute Fiscal Andrew Calderwood told Ayr Sheriff Court last week: “He agreed to do this and returned home at 4.20pm when he was under the influence of alcohol.

“Ms Allan questioned him about this and he became aggressive towards her. This escalated and he seized her by the throat.

“He continued to hold her and at that stage told her that he would set her on fire.”

Mr Calderwood added: “Ms Allan is in poor health. She has a number of illnesses, is partially blind and is virtually housebound.”

Solicitor Mr Tony Currie produced a letter from Ms Allan’s lawyer saying that she was dependent on her son and wanted him back.

Sheriff Jack McGowan told Ferguson: “It’s a revolting crime.”

Ferguson was placed on probation for 18 month