A 26-YEAR-OLD Bomaderry man who pleaded guilty to starting a fire that eventually gutted his parents’ Housing Department home in Sampson Crescent has been sentenced to two years’ jail.
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Barry Stewart, of Sampson Crescent, Bomaderry appeared before Magistrate Gabriel Fleming in Nowra Local Court charged with intentionally or recklessly damaging property by fire or explosives.
Evidence before the court said Stewart had previously lived in Queensland for eight years but after returning for a visit earlier in the year decided to stay with his parents Wayne and Joanne in their home at Bomaderry.
Facts state he returned to the Sampson Crescent address with a friend in an intoxicated state about 11.30pm on August 12 and an argument with family members ensued.
He allegedly went to his room and between 12.30am and 1.30am on August 13, a loud bang and the sound of breaking glass was heard.
Family members entered the room and found black smoke from a pair of jeans that were alight on the floor.
A five-litre petrol can, which had been in the laundry area, was in the room, which caught fire.
Police later found the petrol can in a collapsed floor section of the son’s bedroom.
Magistrate Fleming sentenced him to two years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 12 months and ordered him to pay $102,730.32 compensation to the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.
