Staff "traumatised" after man tried to burn down Kirkcaldy MSP's office
David Torrance was inside the Kirkcaldy building last May when Peter Batten, 55. turned up carrying a burning paint tray
A Fife SNP MSP has revealed that his staff have been left traumatised after a man tried to set fire to his constituency office.
David Torrance was inside the Kirkcaldy building when Peter Batten, 55. turned up carrying a burning paint tray last May.
He pleaded guilty to four charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
The convicted sex offender was jailed for 22 months and given a 5 year non-harassment order after subjecting David Torrance to a string of abuse and threats.
Following the sentencing, David Torrance told us: "There is no way I should have female members of staff who have to barricade themselves into a backroom and are still traumatised to this day. I should also not have to face someone trying to set my office on fire when I am in the building.
"I have one member of staff who is now receiving counselling because of the effect this man had.
He added "At the time, you go into self-protection mode and deflect the situation. It's not until after you sit down, you say to yourself 'oh my god that was serious'. It was a real-threat to life".
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