Jason Richard Lister pleads guilty to burning mum’s car at Mt Tamborine

A Gold Coast tradie took his mum’s car to Mt Tamborine, doused it in fuel and set fire to it. Here’s why he did it.

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A FENCER who torched his mother’s car after it was used to rob and shoot the black sheep of a high-profile Gold Coast family will spend no more time in jail.

Jason Richard Lister took the car to Mt Tamborine, doused it in fuel and set fire to it after it had been used by friends during a robbery in July 2018.

He claims he only burnt the car in an attempt to distance himself from the shooting.

Luke Tomlinson, whose leg had to be amputated following a shooting.

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In the robbery a group of men held Luke Tomlinson at gun point, forced him to get a large sum of cash from an ATM and shot him in the leg.

Mr Tomlinson, of Paradise Point, was dumped on the side of the road in Helensvale. His leg had to be amputated due to injuries.

He is the son of Owen, a well-known Gold Coast identity who brought the Gold Coast Blaze National Basketball League team to town.

Luke Tomlinson’s younger brother Sean is an extremely successful businessman, reportedly worth more than $100 million.

His other brother Ben is also successful and helped their father Owen launch the Blaze on the Coast. He continued to own, train and breed race horses with Owen as late as 2015.

Lister is not accused of being involved in the robbery.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to multiple charges including arson, possessing weapons and possessing dangerous drugs.

Jason Richard Lister outside court in Southport. Picture: Lea Emery.

Judge Nicole Kefford sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison with immediate parole.

Lister has already spent six months behind bars.

The court was told that in the months before the arson police had searched Lister’s home and found a number of weapons.

Crown prosecutor Michael Mitchell said Lister’s mother’s car was worth about $2500.

The insurance company had paid his mother for the car, the court was told.

Defence barrister Sarah Thompson, instructed by Bamberry Lawyers, said the fire was not for financial gain.

“It was to distance himself from a serious offence committed by someone else that he is not a party to,” she said.

Ms Thompson said since the incident Lister had cleaned up his act, was in steady employment with plans to become a rigger and was making attempts to pay back his SPER debt.

She said prior to getting involved in drugs Lister had been a carpenter and involved in the community as a volunteer surf lifesaver and firefighter.

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