Woman tells of man allegedly breaking into her Maryborough home, lighting fire
A still-shaken Queensland woman has told of the terrifying moment a screaming stranger allegedly busted through her backdoor overnight, barricading himself in her bathroom before smoke started filling her home.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Maryborough woman has told of the terrifying moment man allegedly busted through her backdoor before locking himself in the bathroom and setting it on fire.
The woman was having a quiet night at her home on Saltwater Creek Drive about 9pm on Thursday.
Having just fed her dogs, she was getting ready to go to sleep.
Police will allege a screaming stranger then barged into her house and was told to leave by the woman.
Thinking he had left her home and having called triple-o, the woman stood out the front to wait for officers to arrive, chatting with a couple who had also encountered the man.
Suddenly, she heard her smoke alarm going off and she raced back inside.
“The whole house was full of smoke,” she said on Friday morning.
“I saw smoke coming from underneath the bathroom door.”
She ran for her phone and called triple-0 again.
“I was scared to death,” she said.
A neighbour and two other men had run over to her house to break down the door to the bathroom, as she was fearful for the man’s life given the fire and the amount of smoke.
“I was more worried about him dying in my house,” she said.
Police and then fire crews arrived and the man was taken into custody, while the fire was quickly extinguished.
Four people were assessed for smoke inhalation but none needed to be taken to hospital.
A 41-year-old man has been charged with entering premises with intent and endangering particular property by fire.
She said she was glad it hadn’t happened to an elderly person, adding that people needed to lock their doors, even if they were home.
“You’re not safe in your own home, you need to be locking your doors,” she said.
The man is due to appear in Maryborough Magistrates Court on Friday.
‘No longer the barometer’: Future of CBDs will rely on this kind of business
Injured swimmer found after frantic search near Sunshine Coast waterfalls
Shocking new details on serious bike crash near Gympie
Police have released new details about a dramatic crash involving a 4WD and motorbike on the Tin Can Bay Road which left the young rider so badly hurt he was airlifted in the rescue chopper.
Wildlife group launches appeal to halt Sheraton development
Plans to build an 18-storey Sheraton resort in Hervey Bay are up in the air with a conservation group fighting to stop it in its tracks, saying its excessive height will have a major impact on the environment.