A CONVICTED sex offender who was sent to prison last week after admitting attempting to communicate indecently with a ‘child’ has been given further jail time for starting a fire.

Brian Johnstone was imprisoned for 163 days and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years after he was caught sending “vile” images of himself to a person he believed to be a schoolgirl.

He was, in fact, in contact with a group of paedophile hunters and was confronted by members at his former home at Watt’s Close in Musselburgh following the online contact two years ago. His arrest sparked several public protests from angry neighbours who were concerned he had been housed there.

READ MORE: Brian Johnstone jailed for sending 'vile images' to '14-year-old girl'

Johnstone, 61, appeared back at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday for sentencing after he had previously admitted to a charge of setting fire to a mobile catering van at Fenton Barns.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly said the attack was “clearly intentional” and the destruction of the van had an “impact on the premise’s business”.

The sheriff also acknowledged that Johnstone, who has since moved to Maybole, Ayrshire, had committed a similar offence previously.

Sheriff Kelly jailed Johnstone, who has also lived in Humbie in the past, for two years and said that the sentence would run consecutively to his current term.

Johnstone admitted to setting fire to the mobile catering van, causing substantial damage to the exterior, interior and fittings, at Fenton Barns Retail Village on November 2, 2020.