A NOWRA man who set fire to a Department of Housing property, assaulted police and resisted arrest has been jailed for three years.
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Bradley Lonesborough, 24, pleaded guilty to damaging property by fire, three counts of assaulting police and two counts of resisting arrest.
Nowra Local Court heard up to nine police officers and numerous bursts of capsicum spray were needed to subdue Lonesborough during the incident on September 17 last year.
Around 1.55pm police were called to the Bainbrigge Crescent property after reports Lonesborough had poured petrol over the lounge room floor.
The first two officers who arrived at the home spotted a woman on the front lawn and saw Lonesborough carrying a jerry can.
He tipped petrol onto the front lawn and then set it on fire, officers using a garden hose to extinguish the blaze.
Police evidence said Lonesborough picked up a rock and threw it at one of the officers, narrowly missing his head.
Lonesborough continued to throw handfuls of rocks at police, who used capsicum spray on him to no effect.
Police ordered Lonesborough to get on the ground but he continued to throw more rocks at officers before returning inside and reappearing with a metal baseball bat.
Police again sprayed Lonesborough with capsicum spray which again had no effect.
Police said Lonesborough returned to the lounge room and ignited the property which exploded in a fireball, forcing officers to take cover.
When more police arrived, officers attempted to arrest Lonesborough, again using capsiucum spray.
He violently resisted, with four officers suffering scratches, cuts and contamination from the capsicum spray. Another officer suffered smoke inhalation.
Despite Fire and Rescue NSW being at the scene half the house was damaged by fire.
The court heard Lonesborough became more irritated and abusive with officers believing he was under the influence of illegal drugs.
Lonesborough was eventually arrested and transported to Nowra station. As officers attempted to remove him from the police vehicle he allegedly kicked out, hitting one officer in the chest and wrestling with a number of others.
It took five officers to subdue him.
NSW Ambulance paramedics used two injections to calm Lonesborough before starting to decontaminate him from the capsicum spray.
He was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital under police guard and was placed in ankle restraints and handcuffs.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming sentenced Lonesborough to three years’ jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.
