Troy Morris sent to prison after threatening to burn down mother’s house

A 45-year-old man who “ought to know better” poured a can of petrol on his mum’s backyard and threatened to set fire to her property unless she found him some grog.

Taree Local Court

A Taree man will spend nine months behind bars after dousing the back of his mother’s property in petrol and threatening to set it alight in an alcohol-fuelled rage.

Troy Morris, 45, was sentenced to 12 months jail with a non-parole period of nine months on Tuesday after appearing before magistrate Allison Hawkins at Taree Local Court.

Ms Hawkins gave a scathing assessment of Morris’ actions, exacerbated by his lengthy criminal history and what she regarded as a blatant disregard for the criminal justice system.

“Over the course of your adult life you've been up before the court a lot of times,” Magistrate Hawkins said.

“You’re not learning ... you are what we call a recidivist.“

Morris had been on bail for stalk and intimidation charges against his mother, Gayleen Wright, when he was arrested by police for breaching his order by drinking at a Taree pub.

Troy Morris was sentenced to 12 months jail

He had been ordered to abstain from alcohol after threatening to burn down his mother’s property on 29 December last year during a night of heavy drinking.

Court documents stated Ms Wright became troubled by her son‘s behaviour after he spent most of the night drinking.

He became aggressive in the early hours of the morning when he woke his mother demanding to know where the alcohol she hid from him earlier in the night was.

When Ms Wright told him she didn’t know, he became violent and went outside the house and armed himself with petrol before dousing the backyard.

It was at this point she contacted police fearing that he would set fire to the property.

He was arrested by police and later charged for stalking and intimidation.

In court on Tuesday, Magistrate Hawkins told Morris that he only had himself to blame for going to jail.

“Here you are again [in court] at an age that you ought to know better, acting in this way in a disgraceful manner towards your own mother,” she said.

The 45-year-old will be eligible for parole in November

“Here you are threatening your mother saying you will set her house on fire ... there is no other option but jail for you.

“I am sentencing you to full time imprisonment in a jail, and that is to start today.

“Your mother hasn‘t done this to you, you have done this with your immature, reckless, selfish attitude to the people who have provided you with a home.”

Morris’ immediately challenged his detention and appealed for a release, which was quickly denied.

“How can I be satisfied of the community’s safety?” Magistrate Hawkins said.

“This is a very serious matter.

“There was a strong likelihood that you would receive full time jail today and you kept on offending regardless. There is no other alternative but jail.

“My decision is made. Bail is refused.”

Morris will be eligible for bail in November.