Ipswich Court: Sean Anderson applies for bail after Laidley caravan fire arrest

A court has heard how neighbours woke to the sound of explosions following a terrifying alleged display of domestic violence in which a man allegedly threatened to kill his partner’s dog and set their home ablaze.

A caravan and car was allegedly set alight and destroyed in Laidley Creek West. Picture: Supplied

New details have emerged surrounding a caravan fire west of Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

A court has heard terrifying allegations that a man threatened to bash his partner’s head and kill her dog before setting their home ablaze.

Laidley Creek farmworker Sean Barry Aurther Anderson, 46, stands charged with one count of endangering a particular property by fire.

He made an application for bail in Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday, August 24, following his arrest the previous day.

The court heard police had attended a caravan fire in Laidley Creek West in the early hours of morning on August 23.

It is alleged Mr Anderson drove his car into the caravan around 4.20am before damaging property inside the caravan with a cane knife.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne said Mr Anderson had allegedly used a lighter to set fire to flammable items inside the caravan, with flames quickly spreading through the caravan to the car.

“The caravan and the car were completely covered in flames and were destroyed,” Ms Payne said.

A Laidley man had been charged over his alleged involvement in a fire that destroyed a caravan and car.

She said six to eight people had been sleeping in a shared complex nearby and “were awoken to the sound of explosions caused by the fire”.

Ms Payne explained a number of gas cylinders had been within a short distance of the source of the flames.

Mr Anderson had lived in the caravan next to the complex with his partner, who the court heard he had had been arguing with prior to the blaze.

Ms Payne there was an element of domestic violence to the alleged offending, as it was alleged Mr Anderson had threatened during the argument to bash his partner’s head in and kill her dog.

The court heard a witness told police they had heard Mr Anderson say words to the effect of: “I’ll burn down the caravan car and complex”.

Ms Payne said Mr Anderson had made admissions to lighting the fire when interviewed by police but “wasn’t remorseful”.

She said Mr Anderson indicated that “he didn’t intend to hurt anyone but that he would not have been upset if someone had gotten hurt”.

Duty lawyer Matt Gemmell said his client was in an “altered state of mind” at the time of the alleged offence, having been affected by “some substance”.

Mr Gemmell said by Mr Anderson’s account, he had stood between the blaze and the nearby complex with a metal sheet in hopes of preventing the gas cylinders from exploding into the building.

“My client raises an objection with the fact that he was nonchalant,” he said.

A caravan and car was allegedly set alight and destroyed in Laidley Creek West. Picture: Supplied

Mr Gemmell conceded the prosecution had a strong case against his client, but said there would need to be some “factual negotiation” before the matter could be committed for a sentence.

He noted Mr Anderson was “virtually homeless now” as a result of the blaze and had limited ability to organise living arrangements from custody.

He said his client hoped to gain bail to seek assistance for his substance misuse and mental health difficulties.

The court heard Mr Anderson also required ongoing treatment as a result of a car accident last December in which he had broken most of the bones in his face.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Colston said Mr Anderson posed an “such an unacceptable risk” to the community, particularly given his mental health and substance abuse issues.

Ms Payne said it appeared from Mr Anderson’s actions that he was “extremely unstable presently”.

She was not satisfied that any bail conditions could mitigate the risks he posed, and refused Mr Anderson’s bail.

He was remanded in custody for mention on September 15.