Glasgow brother and sister jailed for setting fire to home killing three ‘beloved’ cats

A brother and sister who set fire to a house and killed a man’s three beloved cats have been jailed for 21 months each.

Aaron Forbes, 32, and Amanda Forbes, 34, started the fire in Robroyston, Glasgow, on February 28, 2022.

There was said to be bad blood between Aaron and the home’s owner, Gregor Jamieson. Aaron had previously lived there in the four-bedroom property.

The brothers set fire to furniture while mechanic Jamieson, 52, was at work and stole a safe.

Three of her four one-year-old Bengal cats died in the fire.

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An emotional Mr Jamieson told jurors: “They were, in fact, like my children and it is sickening that they should be removed from this planet in such a traumatic way.”

The Forbes were both convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court of arson.

They were also guilty of breaking into Mr. Jamieson’s house and stealing.

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar told them today: “You have been convicted of a very serious crime: setting fire to a house, causing significant damage and the death of three beloved pet cats.

“Aaron Forbes’ motive appears to have been revenge and this was supported by his sister.

“She supported this revenge by acting on his instructions.

“The gravity of the offences means that there is no alternative to custody that is adequate or appropriate.”

Mr Jamieson recalled how he met Aaron Forbes online 10 years ago and how they lived together for four years.

He said Aaron later moved out of the house he shared with a college professor and another man two weeks before the incident.

Mr Jamieson told the court how he let his four pets out before he went to work.

Mr Jamieson said: “In the course of the morning three of them came back.

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“I thought that was good because I didn’t want them to leave. Little did I know it was a death sentence for them to come home.”

The witness told the court that he later received a phone call from a neighbor informing him that his house was on fire.

Mr Jamieson said: “She told me not to worry as the fire brigade was there.

“I had no idea of ​​the devastation that was to come.”

He drove home and spoke to a firefighter at the scene.

Mr Jamieson recalled: “The first thing I told him was there were three cats in there.

“All he did with his hands was show that the cats were dead.”

The witness said this was described as a cruel action being taken.

Mr Jamieson went on to tell depute Ryan Watson: “If the three of them hadn’t come, they would have been spared.

“One of them didn’t come back. She was spared and is still with us.

“I’m guilty of talking about cats as if they were people. As a cat lover, that’s how I feel.”

The witness stated that he was not allowed to return home for 12 hours.

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CCTV footage from a neighbouring property was shown to the court on the day of the incident of a silver car driven by Aaron near Mr Jamieson’s home.

Two people dressed in black — one identified as Amanda Forbes — were also seen.

Linzi McQuade, defending Aaron, of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, said at sentencing that a “degree of immaturity and vulnerability” had played a part in the offences.

Gemma Elder, defending mother-of-three Amanda, from Kirkintilloch, said her client was “capable of change”.