In the early hours of Saturday, a man allegedly tried to set fire to the Bellambi home of his partner, Wollongong bail court heard on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ari Agung Forrester, 24, of Bellambi, appeared in court charged with damaging property by fire and contravening an apprehended violence order.
According to police facts tendered to court, Forrester had been in a four-year relationship with his partner.
On Friday night, police allege Forrester had gone out for the night, returning to the home in Armour Avenue, Bellambi at around 1am only to find himself locked out.
It was at that point Forrester allegedly started the fire in the garage of the home.
Forrester told police in an interview it was an accident that occurred after he flicked a cigarette lighter at a jerry can of petrol sitting at a rear door of the garage.
However, a witness alleged they saw Forrester pouring liquid - believed to be petrol - on floor of the garage and items inside it.
The witness claims they told him to stop, at which point flames rose up and knocked both the witness and accused to the ground.
At that point the accused then ran off, only to return to the home an hour later, when he was arrested.
The police facts suggest the partner were inside the home at the time of the fire but were taken to a neighbouring property before police arrived at the scene.
Forrester was "adamant" she was not at home, the facts claim.
Police prosecutor Shannon Ryan opposed bail, stating the situation "had the potential to be more serious than it was".
The items in the garage were destroyed and the damage was estimated to cost $5000 to repair.
Sergeant Ryan said there were concerns that Forrester would fail to appear if granted bail, because he was facing a high likelihood of a jail sentence.
Legal Aid solicitor Laura Fennell said Forrester claimed he was not pouring petrol on the floor as the witness claimed, but using the jerry can to fill up the tank of his motorcycle.
She added that he stood by his claim the fire started after he threw a lighter in the vicinity of the jerry can.
Ms Fennell said, if bail was granted, Forrester would agree to live with a relative in Woonona, would not contact his partner or go to her house and report to police regularly.
In refusing bail, Registrar Darcy said the allegations were very serious.
"Had someone not called emergency services the result could have been even more dire," Registrar Darcy said.
She expressed doubt about Forrester's version of events - that the fire started after he threw a cigarette lighter at the jerry can after being frustrated about being locked out.
Registrar Darcy also noted Forrester had a history of non-compliance with court orders.
Forrester was refused bail and will reappear at Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
