Scots dad set house on fire with son inside after 'devil told him to kill family'

Daily Record

4 days ago

Alexander Reape set the house in fire just days before Christmas while his teenage son was inside.
A father who set fire to his home while his teenage son was also inside has been jailed for four years.
Alexander Reape sparked the blaze at the terraced house in Livingston, West Lothian days before Christmas 2023 before later claiming the"devil" had told him to do it. The 43 year-old's son Alexander junior luckily escaped before dragging his dad out, but he went back inside to then torch a jacket and a set of blinds.
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Reape was today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful fire-raising to the danger of life.
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Reape had initially faced an accusation of the attempted murder of his son. Judge Tom Hughes today cut the jail-term from six years due to the guilty plea.
The court heard Reape - the son of a retired army sergeant - had a history of mental health issues. He was said to have been "angry" on the day of the fire that he had not been admitted to hospital.
Reape told a medic: "The devil's voice is telling me to kill my family."
The dad and son were later together at their home when Alexander junior spotted smoke coming from a crack in his bedroom door. Prosecutor Vish Kathuria stated the teenager was then aware of more black smoke billowing at the top of the stairs and Reape clutching a disposable lighter.
Mr Kathuria added: "It appears Reape set fire to bedding in each bedroom."
The panicked son went to grab Reape so they could get out, but the dad resisted. He eventually dragged him away, but Reape soon went back inside.
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A hysterical Alexander junior had to team up with two neighbours to force entry and eventually get Reape out onto the street. Reape, now of Bathgate, also West Lothian, was later arrested and again claimed the"devil's voice" had told him to do it.
He was assessed by a psychiatrist who deemed that he was "aware of his actions and consequences". The repair bill for the housing association property was £91,368.
Reape's lawyer today said what occurred was "highly unusual behaviour" and that it was "remarkable someone would act in this way". Jonathan Crowe, defending, added the dad was prepared to be jailed, but that he still "requires help".