Tony Charles Graham pleads guilty to his role in $41m Lake Macquarie Council arson attack
An East Maitland man’s post-arson McDonald’s run has proved the perfect evidence for police investigating a costly attack on Lake Macquarie council, which looks to have been at the request of a “big developer”.
An East Maitland man has admitted he was the getaway driver in a pre-dawn attack targeting one of the state’s largest council headquarters which court documents have revealed was a job hired by a “big developer”.
Tony Charles Graham, 54, waited just 150 metres down the street from the Lake Macquarie City Council at Speers Point on November 27 last year, before two men jumped in his grey utility before 4am and the group took off, according to court documents.
But police facts detailed it would be a Maccas run moments after the attack that would be the downfall of the peckish threesome, where security footage caught them ordering food at the nearby fast food restaurant at Warner’s Bay.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Graham pleaded guilty to destroy/damaged property in company by fire and four other firearm charges related to a rifle, taser and ammunition found during a raid on his East Maitland property.
Charges of drug possession and aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence in company were dismissed.
He will head to the District Court on February 5 for a sentence date to be set.
Police facts detailed that Strike Force Komiatum detectives discovered CCTV footage of the early breakfast run, with Graham identified in the driver’s seat.
Police also had vision of Graham and the utility at a Hamilton service station less than an hour before it all unfolded.
Court documents also revealed police were able to intercept telephone calls and messages of two men discussing the fire and being hired by a “big developer” who wanted them to cause as much damage as possible to the council building.
According to the facts the three men involved were hired by an “unknown party”.
While the original damage bill was thought to be $12 million, it is now estimated by insurers as $41 million.
Police facts said Graham had waited at the car as two men, one carrying a petrol can and the second carrying a container, broke their way through a closed and locked automatic sliding glass door, before pouring an unknown liquid on the ground and on a service counter.
Police facts also stated the pair used matches and a lighter and sparked the blaze which would cause fire damage to parts of the council building, as well as cause costly smoke and water damage.
Fire crews and police were quick to extinguish the blaze and established a crime scene before they had the help of a specialist arson dog to identify eight ignition points where accelerant was used.
During the 54-year-old’s arrest almost two months following the arson, detectives seized a single-barrel long arm rifle found next to Graham’s bed at his East Maitland home and a homemade taser.
They also located the grey utility at the property and clothing worn during the attack was also found.
Bar Beach man Scott Matheson, 44, was also arrested in February accused of his role in the attack on the council chambers.
He was originally arrested following an investigation by Strike Force Balgo detectives over a drive-by shooting at a home in Elermore Vale on January 29 but when he arrived at Newcastle Police Station, Lake Macquarie detectives then nabbed him over the alleged arson attack.
Matheson also appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday but defence required one more week to get instructions on last remaining factual issues.
He is facing a charge of destroy/damage property in company by means of fire and aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence in company.
His matter was adjourned until next week.
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Originally published as Tony Charles Graham pleads guilty to his role in $41m Lake Macquarie Council arson attack
