A JOHNSTONE bouncer is facing jail after using a home-made fire kit he bought in a pound shop to torch his sister’s flat.

Jordan Cook stuffed pages of a newspaper doused in white spirit and lighter fluid inside the letterbox of Jemma Cook’s flat in the town’s Dimity Street.

He then set the paper alight, causing damage to the door and filling the property with smoke.

Cook, 27, pleaded guilty to carrying out the arson attack when he appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court last week.

However, he struck a deal with prosecutors which saw them drop another charge stating he had tried to encourage John Bates, who lived with Miss Cook, to set fire to the flat.

Procurator fiscal depute Keri Marshall told the court how Cook was caught red-handed after he had targeted the property at around 11.50am on August 16 last year.

She said police had spotted him at the scene with a lighter in his hand.

Miss Marshall added: “Police officers were aware of an alleged ongoing dispute between the accused and Mr Bates and so, when they saw the accused, they arrested him.”

Cook was found to be in possession of lighter fluid, white spirit and a Metro newspaper which had pages 11 to 34 ripped out.

The fire service were called and they ensured the flat was safe after evacuating the building.

It was stated that officers had found “scorch marks” to the inside of Miss Cook’s front door and embers of the fire, which were sent for testing and found to contain “a composition similar to white spirit.”

The court was also told that Cook, of Sheldrake Place, had bought the white spirit and lighter fluid from the Poundland store in Johnstone town centre.

Outlining the background to the offence, Cook’s defence solicitor, Charlie McCusker, told the court that his client suffered from mental health problems.

He added: “The home in question is the home of his sister, a Jemma Cook, but I will give more of an explanation on the next occasion regarding that.”

After hearing from Mr McCusker, Sheriff Seith Ireland called for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing and continued proceedings until February.

Cook was remanded in custody.

He could be caged for the offence when he returns to the dock next month to learn his fate.