Reece Edward Scarborough sentenced after trying to set fire to Warnies Cafe

A man who tried to kick his way into a popular Central Coast cafe before trying to set it on fire has been sentenced.

A man who had been out of prison for just 20 days tried to set fire to a Warnervale cafe.

Reece Edward Scarborough, of Ourimbah, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to 12 months jail with a non parole period of seven months.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry on inclosed land, affray, cause or set fire to the property of another, destroy damage property, possess prohibited drug, resist officer in execution of duty and stalk/intimidate.

The court heard Mr Scarborough was on parole at the time of the incident and had been out of jail for 20 days before his next offence.

The incident occurred at Warnies Cafe on October 28.

An agreed set of facts tendered to the court stated that Warnies Cafe was closed in October 2021 due to Covid restrictions and two workmen arrived on the afternoon of October 28 to install a new floating floor.

The men noticed Mr Scarborough at the premises hosing down the back deck, windows and play equipment. They became suspicious when they heard him say “smash a window and grab a drink”.

They alerted the owner who, in a video call, asked Mr Scarborough what he was doing and he replied “I’m working”. She arrived at the cafe, asked him to turn off the hose and was ignored.

The park opposite Warnies Cafe where a man lit a fire to try and burn down the cafe.

Not long after Mr Scarborough was at the front glass door of the cafe trying to get inside. When one of the workmen asked what he was doing, he replied “I am trying to get in to get cash for the job I just did”.

The facts state that Mr Scarborough then attempted to light a rag with a butane gas torch before the man inside the cafe pushed open the door to push him away.

Mr Scarborough then kicked the entry door “with extreme force”, then kicked the lower glass panel of the door which shattered.

The owner called triple-0 saying there was a man trying to break in and set the cafe on fire.

Mr Scarborough then walked to Warnervale Rd and lit a fire in shrubbery near a children’s park.

Mr Scarborough lit two palm fronds on fire.

He was seen carrying two palm fronts “completely alight” while walking back to the cafe.

However, he turned around when he saw his fire becoming out of control and tried to put it out. A member of the public also stopped to help put the fire out with a small fire extinguisher.

Police arrived and found Mr Scarborough near the fire which had grown to 4m x 4m. When they tried to arrest him he said “put the fire out you gronks”. He was forced to the ground before an officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Officers also found 1g of cannabis on Mr Scarborough.

The facts state that at Wyong Police Station on October 29, Mr Scarborough tore up his remand warrant and abused and threatened police officers telling them “I’m gonna knife you” and “it’s gonna get worse for you if I don’t get out”.

Mr Scarborough abused police officers back st Wyong Police Station after his arrest.

Mr Scarborough’s defence lawyer said he had been released from jail for a prior offence on October 8 2021 and had not been able to access his medication. He said Mr Scarborough’s actions at the cafe were not planned and he expressed his remorse.

Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said Mr Scarborough had served time in prison in 2013, 2016 and 2020. She said a psychological report revealed he had mental health issues and a history of cannabis use disorder.

Magistrate Ellis said the only way to deal with Mr Scarborough was by a term of imprisonment and fine, however found special circumstances were warranted due to his mental health diagnosis.

With time already served, he will be eligible for parole on May 28 2022.