Teremoana Junior Ben burnt home to ground and threatened to kill woman
An Ipswich family’s home was reduced to ashes following a man’s terrifying outburst, and now he’s now been released back into the community.
Ipswich
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An Ipswich mum endured a barrage of terrifying calls and messages from her then partner before he followed through on a threat and burnt their home to the ground.
Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said during a one-hour period on November 1, 2020, Teremoana Junior Ben called the woman 22 times and sent 11 messages.
Ms Parfitt said Ben told the woman he was going to kill her.
The court heard he also threatened to burn the house down.
The next morning he did just that.
The court heard it was lucky no one was at the Collingwood Park home when Ben drenched it in fuel and set it alight.
Ms Parfitt said the home was gutted by the fire and had to be demolished, and the owners received over $339,000 in insurance.
Ms Parfitt said on the morning of the fire police found the then 36-year-old 400m up the road and that he had been in custody since his arrest.
Teremoana Junior Ben pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges of arson and threatening to kill via a carriage service.
Defence Barrister Steve Kissick said the fire was a result of Ben’s inability to gain self-control and the fire was not premeditated.
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren did not agree, given Ben threatened to burn the house down hours prior.
Mr Kissick said Ben had no intention of pursuing the past relationship and lined up work at Meadowbrook as a concreter and planned to live at Logan when released.
Judge Horneman-Wren declared the 486 days Ben spent in presentence custody as time served and sentenced him to a 3 ½ year suspended jail sentence.
Judge Horneman-Wren said Ben had a good chance of rehabilitation within the community and a 6 month probation order would help facilitate it.
A protection order will be in place preventing Ben from contacting the woman and his child until December 2023.
The court heard Ben planned to legally gain visits with his son in the near future.
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