 | 'Mr Watson has been expelled from the Labour Party. In addition, he has lost his seat in the Scottish Parliament, his career and his reputation and now having already paid a heavy price, he has been jailed. His sentence illustrates that if you commit a serious crime in Scotland, no matter who you are, you must face the consequences. That is right,' he added.' A Labour Party spokesman, 22 nd September 2005. |  |
SHAMED PEER Lord Mike Watson of Invergowrie last night started a 16-month jail sentence for starting a fire at a top hotel and endangering the lives of guests.
A social inquiry report prepared for the court stated there was a significant risk of him re- offending and causing a risk to public safety.
Lord Watson (56) admitted setting a curtain ablaze after a heavy drinking session at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards ceremony in Edinburgh last year. He has already resigned as the Labour MSP for Glasgow Cathcart and as a director of Dundee United Football Club. The Cathcart by-election is being held next Thursday.
Lord Watson, who cannot be stripped of his peerage, would have been sentenced to 20 months but his guilty plea saw this cut to 16.
Sentencing him at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said the fact nobody was injured was due to the prompt actions of staff at the Prestonfield House Hotel and the high quality of the hotel's safety equipment.
'I have to say that someone in public office ought to know how to conduct himself on all occasions,' she said. 'No explanation has been offered for your actions.
'A large amount of alcohol appears to have been consumed but that neither excuses nor fully explains your behaviour. This is not an offence which was committed recklessly.'
The sheriff said that, in view of the 'deliberate and dangerous nature' of his conduct and that, according to a social inquiry report, he presented a 'significant risk of re-offending', a custodial sentence was the only appropriate outcome. No motive for his actions was put forward but the court was told he had been having a difficult personal time and had a problem with alcohol.
His lawyer, Paul Burns, said happiness turned to disappointment for his client when the joy of his and his wife's successful IVF treatment ended in the loss of that child some months later.
Mr Burns said, 'Although he is a robust and strong person, he is a human being and I suspect that took him to a lonely and dark place,' adding that the events of November 12 had led to the 'spectacular destruction of his public life'.
'The psychological report clearly indicates alcohol had become problematic for him and it seems, I think, to suggest that like a lot of people, he may, indeed he has, crossed the line that separates alcohol from recreation into problem.'
The lawyer, who said he sought no special treatment for his client, said the pressure on Watson with living his life in the public gaze was one that others may struggle to understand.
He spoke of Watson's sadness at no longer being part of the Scottish Parliament, having stood down from his post on the day he pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful fire-raising.
He said of the ex-tourism, culture and sport minister, 'It is a particularly painful thing for him to find himself in this present situationÑdebarred at his own hand from that institution that represented so much of his life's work.'
Watson's wife Clare, who joined him in court, was in floods of tears as he was led away to begin his jail term.
Outside court, a spokes-man said Watson wanted to pay tribute to Clare and those who had stood by him throughout the case.
'He just wants to say that his wife Clare has stood by him like a rock during a phenomenally difficult time and she continues to stand by him,' he said. 'He would also like to thank what he would term his true friends, who have really stood by him during this time. There's an awful lot of people out there who have still got time for Mike Watson.'
He said of Watson's wife, Clare, 'She is very, very upset but I don't think you would expect any less.'
Questioned about Watson's future, the spokesman referred to his decision to resign from Parliament and from his post at Dundee United FC. 'Mike's public life up here is pretty much in tatters. He took a brave decision when he came out and said that,' he said.
The spokesman said Lord Watson's legal team would now look at the sheriff's judgment and consider what, if any, further action will be taken.
The blaze broke out in the main reception area of Edinburgh's Prestonfield House Hotel at around 2.15 am on November 12.
Watson had initially denied responsibility for starting the fire, which caused £4500 worth of damage.
But CCTV footage apparently showed him crouching down at the base of a curtain just minutes before it was engulfed in flames.
Delegates at the SNP annual conference in Aviemore cheered and clapped as news of the sentence was broadcast in the theatre.
In a statement, a Scottish Labour Party spokesman said yesterday, 'Mr Watson has been expelled from the Labour Party.
'In addition, he has lost his seat in the Scottish Parliament, his career and his reputation and now having already paid a heavy price, he has been jailed. His sentence illustrates that if you commit a serious crime in Scotland, no matter who you are, you must face the consequences. That is right,' he added.
The Scottish Tories noted he will serve only eight months. 'Thanks to Labour and Lib Dem insistence of preserving automatic early release, Lord Watson will be out of jail after serving only half his sentence, eight months,' said deputy leader Annabel Goldie.
It is understood Lord Watson was taken to Edinburgh's Saughton Prison. He may serve his sentence there or face being transferred to Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison at a later date.
Saughton, situated to the west of the capital on the A71, takes prisoners from courts in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders.
Long-term prisoners, including life prisoners, are held there after sentencing to await transfer to the jail where they will remain.
It provides a national facility for prisoners at the pre-release stage of their sentence as well as holding remand prisoners and those serving less than four years.
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