Adelaide fire bug Garry John Trestrail pleads guilty to lighting 10 fires which destroyed vehicles, buildings, threatened McDonald’s

A FIREBUG has admitted starting 10 fires that damaged cars, homes and property in the southern suburbs — and put a McDonald’s restaurant under threat.

Garry Trestrail, charged with southern suburbs arson -

A FIREBUG has admitted setting 10 fires that damaged cars, homes and property in the southern suburbs — and put a McDonald’s restaurant under threat.

Garry John Trestrail was due to stand trial in the District Court on Tuesday over an arson spree during January and February 2014.

However, he pleaded guilty to four counts of arson, six counts of causing a bushfire and one count of damaging property — leaving him facing a maximum life sentence.

Judge Barry Beazley congratulated prosecution and defence counsel on resolving the complex matter without the planned, lengthy trial.

“This is a very proper approach, I must say, having gone through all the material,” he said.

“A lot of work has been done on this matter, and this is a very proper outcome.”

Trestrail, 24, of Morphett Vale, was arrested in February 2014 in the wake of 12 scrub and grass fires across including Christies Beach, Seaford, Morphett Vale and McLaren Flat.

Prosecutors alleged police seized clothing, a fuel can, a cigarette lighter, computer and mobile phone when Trestrail was arrested and found a tin of paint stripper at one of the fires.

They further alleged Trestrail lied about his movements during the arson spree, claiming to have watched one of the fires from a McDonald’s drive-through that he had not used.

They said he was responsible for a “wall of flame” that burned 4ha of scrub and destroyed a shed, a car, two buildings, two industrial bins, a haystack and trees by the drive-through.

On Tuesday, Trestrail admitted setting fires at McLaren Flat, Seaford Heights, Noarlunga Centre, Morphett Vale and Happy Valley.

He also admitted those fires destroyed the buildings and objects alleged by prosecutors.

Judge Beazley remanded him in custody to face sentencing submissions in May.

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