Gosford: Daemon Bullivant, 51, admits sparking NYE fire with fireworks, cigarette

A Central Coast man endangered up to a thousand people, including children, when he set off illegal fireworks and dropped a lit cigarette on New Year’s Eve sparking a large grass fire, a court has heard.

NSW Police clear the scene of a fire at Leagues Club Park following the A-League match on December 31, 2024, in Gosford. Picture: Getty Images

A man caught red-handed setting off fireworks in a crowded Central Coast park on New Year’s Eve told police it was probably more likely his dropped cigarette, which sparked a wild blaze.

Daemon Bullivant, 51, of Narara, faced Gosford Local Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to handling explosives without licence, possessing illegal fireworks and discarding a lit cigarette.

An agreed set of facts states up to a thousand people, predominantly families with children, were celebrating New Year’s Eve in Leagues Club Park, adjacent to Gosford waterfront, about 9.15pm on December 31.

A Mariners game had just concluded in the stadium next door and the facts state police were monitoring crowds near the roundabout of Central Coast Highway and Dane Drive.

“Police heard several fireworks exploding and soon after saw a small grass fire start in the garden,” the facts state.

The fire took hold incredibly quickly. (Photo: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

“Standing in the waist high garden, next to the fire, was the accused. This grass quickly turned into a large out of control fire.

“Police attempted to use a number of fire extinguishers on the fire but by this time it has spread roughly 10m by 10m and had flames going several metres into the air.”

Daemon Bullivant, 51, of Narara, has pleaded guilty to starting a fire in Leagues Club Park. Picture: X/Simonhill1894

As officers began moving people back, onlookers started yelling “He started the fire! He chucked fireworks into the bushes”.

Bullivant, a windscreen fitter, looked directly at officers just 3m-4m away and “immediately started fleeing” through the crowd.

“Police chased the accused about 100m and tackled him in the crowd before placing him under arrest,” the facts state.

Police searched him and found a further seven red fireworks and one larger blue firework in his possession.

“Once arrested, police acknowledge the accused became apologetic and proceeded to make full admissions to not only possessing and using fireworks at the time the fire started but also supplied police with a version that he thinks the lit cigarette that he accidentally dropped in the bushed started the fire, not the fireworks,” the facts state.

“The accused was not only endangering his own safety when letting these explosives off, but also endangering the hundreds of persons surrounding him which was predominantly made up of families including children.”

Magistrate Kirralee Perry said if she sentenced him on the fireworks and dropped cigarette, it was “one thing”, but if she was sentencing him on the “danger posed to up to a thousand people it was a very different beast”.

The prosecutor sought an adjournment for police to consider laying further charges.

Bullivant’s matter was adjourned for sentence to April 10.