A MURDERER who set his prison cell ablaze was sentenced to 14 months today.

James Mack, 47, also barricaded himself inside the cell’s shower room in HMP Low Moss last September.

He was behind bars at the time for the murder of Edith Landsborough, 24, in Cowie, Stirlingshire in 1997.

Mack strangled and stabbed the mum-of-two before putting her in a wheelie bin wrapped with plastic bags.

He was brought to justice when fragments of Miss Landsborough’s nails were found after she was dumped in a barley field.

The nails forensically matched the ones found in Mack’s room during an investigation.

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He pleaded guilty to wilful fire raising following this latest crime, but will not face further jail time as the sentence was imposed concurrently to his life sentence.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Mack refused to engage with prison officers after setting the blaze.

The guards clocked a bin on fire as well as burnt paper lying on the floor.

They entered the cell to find Mack had hid himself inside the shower room.

Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court officers had to “retreat” due to the billowing smoke.

The guards were forced to don protective equipment before removing a “a dazed and unresponsive” Mack.

Ken Dalling, defending, told the court Mack was released from his life sentence in May 2018 before being recalled last July.

He added: “There continues to be ramifications for him for the offence of murder and isn’t treated kindly in custody.

“He said he doesn’t know what he was thinking but it wasn’t an attempt on his life and he feels isolated and helpless.”

Sheriff Ian Miller told Mack prison staff had been at “risk” of smoke inhalation after what happened.