Rhiannon Watherston jailed for revenge arson attack on Elizabeth South rental

A mum who torched her northern suburbs rental after her family was given notice to vacate has learned her fate for the arson attack that left a $228,000 damage bill.

A tenant who torched her rental home in an “unjustified revenge” attack on her landlord for being asked to move out has been jailed for the “impulsive and vengeful” incident.

Mother-of-five Rhiannon Sarri Watherston, 37, gathered cardboard boxes and clothes into a bedroom at the Elizabeth South rental home before setting it on fire shortly before 2am on October 2, 2020.

In sentencing, District Court Judge Michael Durrant said the “calculated and planned” fire caused “extensive damage” to multiple rooms at the property, leaving a $228,000 damage bill.

“Your motivation in offending was a sense of unjustified revenge and a desire to cause hurt and harm to the landlord and his family,” he said.

Rhiannon Watherston rudely gestures toward media as she enters the District Court to be sentenced. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

He said her “extreme reaction” was “grossly disproportionate” to her landlord’s request.

“It was fortunate that your actions did not cause physical harm to anyone, that the fire did not spread to neighbouring properties causing further damage,” he said.

Watherston was captured on CCTV entering and leaving the house within three minutes, before parking on vacant land nearby to watch as the flames took hold.

Judge Durrant said Watherston had told a psychologist she thought the house was uninsured and began thinking it could be set on fire.

“You wanted to hurt the family of your landlord like he hurt yours,” he said.

“You said it felt good to be seeking revenge.”

Judge Durrant said the blaze had caused “financial loss and significant disruption and anguish for the owner and his family”.

He said Watherston had an “troubled and fraught” upbringing which included her father threatening to burn down their house.

She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, was impulsive and had difficulty regulating emotions.

“Rather than regulating your response to the perceived actions of the landlord you took an impulsive and vengeful path,” Judge Durrant said.

He said Watherston’s personal circumstances were deserving of some sympathy but arson was “a very serious crime which usually calls for a substantial term of imprisonment”.

“This is a serious example of that very serious crime,” he said.

After a discount for her guilty plea, Judge Durrant imposed a jail term of four years and three months, with a non-parole period of two years.