Philip Andrew Hunter in court for attempted arson

A diagnosis of termite damage led to a siege in a peaceful rural community, involving a “hostage” and an armed man.

Philip Andrew Hunter pleaded guilty to attempted arson and act intended to resist or prevent arrest when he faced Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

Facing the prospect of eviction, a Theebine man barricaded himself inside his home with his partner, poured diesel on the stairs of the rental home and tried to ignite a fire, a court has heard.

Philip Andrew Hunter pleaded guilty to attempted arson and to an act intended to resist or prevent arrest when he faced Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

Crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie said the charges related to an incident on January 23, 2022.

Hunter had called police and claimed to be holding his partner hostage, although she did not consider herself to be a hostage, Mr Corsbie said.

Hunter had armed himself with knives and a jerry can of diesel.

He also requested news coverage, Mr Corsbie said.

Hunter then told police he had five minutes to comply with his demands.

Police told him he needed to surrender.

When the officers did not comply with his demands, he doused the front wooden steps of the home with the diesel and attempted to light the fuel with a lighter, but he was unsuccessful.

Police then doused the entire area with powder from a fire extinguisher, Mr Corsbie said.

Hunter then ran inside the house and barricaded himself against the door, but police gained access through the back door and a taser was used to subdue him.

When police went inside, they found there was also diesel residue inside the house, Mr Corsbie said.

Defence barrister Peter O’Connor said on the day of the incident, Hunter had been drinking alcohol.

Philip Andrew Hunter pleaded guilty to attempted arson and act intended to resist or prevent arrest when he faced Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

The family had been told they would need to leave their Theebine home because it had termite damage and they were essentially being evicted, which had caused stress, Mr O’Connor said.

In addition, his partner was suffering health issues which had also caused distress.

The family had been told they would need to leave their Theebine home because it had termite damage and they were essentially being evicted, which had caused stress, Mr O’Connor said.

In addition, his partner was suffering health issues which had also caused distress.

In her witness statement, Hunter’s partner told police he had never hurt or threatened her and throughout the incident he had offered to let her leave the house, Mr O’Connor said, and she had said she was not scared of him.

Judge Vicki Loury said on the day of the incident, “something of a siege” that took place over a couple of hours had unfolded.

She said a police negotiator had been called and Hunter had threatened to douse the stairs of the home with fuel and set it on fire, which he had attempted to do.

Ms Loury said ultimately Hunter had been tasered and taken to the watchhouse.

From that time he had been in custody, until his sentencing on Tuesday, she said.

Hunter was sentenced to two years in prison.

After serving 10 months behind bars, he was released on immediate parole.