Jimal David Willmot in Gympie District court for breaking and entering, endangering property with fire

A man, who was caught breaking and entering into a respite centre and destroying $8000 worth of property, has been sentenced.

Jimal David Willmot was convicted on one count of breaking and entering and one count of endangering property by fire.

A Gympie man has been sentenced after leaving a respite centre in tatters.

Jimal David Willmot, 51, pleaded guilty in Gympie District Court to one count of breaking and entering and one count of endangering property by fire on his last day of parole for an assault charge he was convicted for in 2019.

The court heard Willmot broke into the Church St respite centre in the early morning of April 10, 2020, and completely shattered the glass before going into the kitchenette and setting fire to several items on the countertop.

He also set fire to several curtains and broke a smoke alarm in the building.

The court heard Willmot then walked to a home on Caledonian Hill and told the owner he had just come across a fire and required an ambulance.

He was picked up by paramedics and treated for smoke inhalation and a dislocated thumb before being identified as the person responsible for the damage.

When the employees walked into the building later that morning, they found shattered glass all over the floor, fire extinguisher powder, a fire extinguisher and several charred items.

The court heard Wilmot had destroyed $8010.90 worth of property.

Willmot claimed to have no memory of the evening and couldn’t explain how the fires had been lit, the court heard.

He was sentenced to 184 days in jail with parole release on August 5.

Convictions were recorded.