Arsonist Michele Sindoni jailed for torching neighbour’s Grange home in dispute over loan

A man “maliciously” burned down the home of his disabled neighbour and former mate after a dispute involving stored furniture.

A neighbour who torched a disabled man’s house in a “premeditated and malicious” act after a dispute over a cabinet and money has been jailed for six years.

Michele Sindoni used methylated spirits and matches to set fire to the victim’s home on Yorkshire St, Grange, in January 2019.

In sentencing, District Court Judge Geraldine Davison said Sindoni, 31, and the victim had been friends but “had a falling-out” after the victim refused to lend Sindoni money.

At the time, Sindoni was storing a cabinet for the victim at his neighbouring unit.

“On the day that he refused to loan you money, he came home to find that cabinet that you were storing to be damaged and dumped in his front yard,” Judge Davison said.

In the early hours of January 5, 2019, Sindoni briefly spoke to the victim as he sat in a friend’s car in his driveway. Minutes after the victim left, Sindoni was captured on CCTV walking towards the victim’s home.

“Shortly thereafter there was a flash and light and smoke emanating from his house,” Judge Davison said.

“You were then captured leaving his home and returning to your unit.”

Judge Davison said Sindoni denied igniting the blaze, but police found a bottle of methylated spirits under a sink and some matches on top of the washing machine.

The victim’s home on Yorkshire Street, Grange, was destroyed. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

Investigators determined the cabinet was the ignition point of the fire.

“A forensic examination of (the victim’s) home revealed there were burnt remains of a large piece of wooden furniture against the northern external wall of the property on the front veranda,” Judge Davison said.

The fire caused $350,000 worth of damage to the home and it could not be saved.

Sindoni was found guilty at trial of a charge of arson.

Judge Davison said the fire caused the victim financial and psychological hardship and left him nowhere to live.

She said it also caused him “deep shock, grief and distress as he watched the house his parents had built burn for several hours”.

“You not only caused him to lose his home and former lifestyle that he enjoyed but also the sentimental memories from his family and his treasured collections. You have caused a significant amount of loss for (the victim) who is physically disabled and now essentially homeless.”

She said Sindoni, who moved to Australia in 2012, had shown a lack of remorse.

“Your offending was premeditated and it was malicious. It put the lives of your neighbours at risk as well as the lives of the emergency services workers.”

Sindoni was jailed for six years with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.