Arsonist jailed for church fire

AN ARSONIST who torched a Howrah church has been jailed for a year after a judge deemed him a potential "danger to the community".

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard Anthony Wayne Emery, 26, broke into the Church of Christ, in Holland Court, on the night of November 17, 2011, by forcing a window.

He threw accelerant through the window and set the church on fire. The blaze spread through an office, destroying equipment, paperwork and furniture, and then the church itself began to burn.

"Fortunately the fire brigade attended quickly and the fire was able to be brought under control," Justice Shan Tennent said while sentencing Emery on Wednesday.

The court heard Emery came up with an implausible tale when questioned by police in December.

"You claimed to have been walking near the church with a cousin and seen smoke," Justice Tennent said. "You then met two men who said they had set fire to the church."

Emery changed his story after learning police had found his fingerprint on the church window.

Eventually he admitted it was him and pleaded guilty to one count of arson. His marriage to a South Australian woman he had met online was short-lived as a result.

Justice Tennent said Emery had "a significant history of offending". Recognising he had a genetic disorder, she sought psychological reports to help determine his punishment.

The psychologist said given Emery's history, it was likely that no amount of support would completely prevent problem behaviour or illegal acts.

Justice Tennent said she had little choice but to jail Emery for a year.

"You have continued to offend and you seem to have a leaning towards setting fires," she said.

"That suggests you potentially represent a danger to the community."

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Source: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/09/06/359411_tasmania-news.html

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