Scott McArthur sentenced to seven years for lighting bushfires near

Nowra
ABC Illawarra / By Jessica Clifford
Posted Thu 18 Jun 2020 at 2:37pm , updated Thu 18 Jun 2020 at 3:45pm

A man who intentionally lit two fires on the New South Wales South Coast last year has been sentenced
to seven years in prison.

Scott McArthur, 41, showed no remorse for lighting the Key points:
fires in September, which could have burned directly
Scott McArthur, 41, says he does not have a
into homes backing into bushland at west Nowra.
clear recollection of the day he lit fires near
At the time, large fires were burning in northern NSW. Nowra, in NSW
The sentencing judge said the fact that
Two months later the South Coast region also
there were fires burning in the state's north
experienced catastrophic bushfires.
showed "increased recklessness"
A witness said she saw McArthur lighting the fires on McArthur was sentenced to seven years' jail
September 14.
and will be eligible for parole in 2024
She had seen him bending down, she said, and then
saw flames and smoke.

She confronted McArthur, but he ran away.

The fires burned through more than 100 square metres of bushland before firefighters were able to bring
them under control.

McArthur was caught that day and admitted to police what he had done.

'Serious misconduct'
Speaking from Bathurst Prison via audio visual link, McArthur told the Nowra District Court that he had
been homeless at the time and lit the fires for cooking.

He said once they got out control he "freaked out" and ran.

He also said he was an alcoholic and did not remember the exact details of the day.

He then told the court he wanted to remain in custody, but he did not elaborate why. 

McArthur’s lawyer argued there was no accelerant used to light the fires and that made the offences
objectively less serious.
But in sentencing, Judge Stephen Norrish said the offences did amount to serious misconduct, given the
dry conditions and fires burning further north at that time.

His honour said it showed increased recklessness.

Judge Norris also took into account that they were lit within metres of residential housing.

He noted there was no indication McArthur showed symptoms of pyromania or that he had gained
anything from lighting them that would indicate a psychiatric illness.

McArthur was sentenced to seven years in prison.

He will be eligible for parole in 2024.