Nathan Keen: Ipswich man accidentally dials triple-0, discloses arson plot

A young Ipswich dad has been sentenced after accidentally dialling triple-0 and telling emergency services staff about his plans to burn down his friend’s house.

Angered by a perceived threat made by a friend, a 21-year-old Ipswich man attempted to call the target of his frustrations and tell him he was going to burn his house down – only he actually dialled triple-0, a court has heard.

Nathan Keen, a father and budding tattooist from Bellbird Park, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, February 21, facing one charge of threatening violence by words or conduct.

He pleaded guilty.

The court heard about 6.53pm on November 12 last year at Goodna, Keen called triple-0 and said he was going to burn someone’s house down.

He then said he had called the wrong number and hung up.

The triple-0 operator called Keen back, who restated he was going to tip petrol on his friend’s house and burn it.

He said his friend had made comments about harming his three-year-old daughter, so he was sitting outside his house with a jerry can.

The court heard he then changed his story and said he was actually just about to leave his house to go and burn his friend’s house down.

Police found Keen at his own house and attempted to come up with a “peaceful resolution”, but he told them he would go and burn his friend’s house the second they left him alone.

Keen was arrested for threatening violence and transported to the watch house.

Defence lawyer Erin Dwan said her client spent five days in custody after his arrest.

She said it was conceded at the time of his bail application that not only did he never had a jerry can despite his threats, he never left his own home.

Ms Dwan said Keen was intoxicated at the time of offending, which may go some way to explaining his behaviour.

“He says that … the threatened person was someone he knew,” Ms Dwan said.

“There was some exchange between them where that person had said or made threats to harm his daughter.

“He took aversion to that and that’s where he made these threats.”

The court heard Keen struggled with depression, anxiety, and anger management issues and has Asperger syndrome. He regularly sees a counsellor.

Ms Dwan said he acknowledged the seriousness of his offending but claimed he had no intention of ever carrying out his threats. He also said he had not had any alcohol since the incident.

Keen will start work on Tuesday as an apprentice tattooist.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said he had taken into consideration the young father’s age, his timely plea of guilty, and his clean criminal history.

He acknowledged the health issues he suffered and the “full and frank” admissions he made to police after offending.

“It seems that you’ve got matters well and truly in hand,” Mr Kinsella told Keen.

“To my mind, the appropriate outcome would be one of a fine.”

Keen was fined $500 for his offending.

No conviction was recorded.