Peter David Hamilton jailed for burning down Elizabeth Vale family home, destroying children's belongings

A father in the grip of “absolute rage” piled his family’s entire possessions in the living room of their Adelaide home and set them alight.

Peter David Hamilton has been jailed for gutting his marital home in an effort to destroy his family’s possessions in a fit of “absolute rage”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

A northern suburbs father who torched his ex-wife and four children’s entire belongings and home has been jailed for his destructive act of domestic violence.

Peter David Hamilton, of Elizabeth Vale, had descended into an “absolute rage” on January 10, 2024, after finding out his then-wife and four children would not be returning to the family home for a week.

The 39-year-old’s ex received a number of messages from Hamilton, telling her she was “playing games again”.

“I’m done, there’s nothing here for you … play silly games, win stupid prizes,” Hamilton’s messages read.

After drinking half a bottle of whiskey with Coke, Hamilton collected the family’s possessions in a 1.5m pile in the living room, including toys, nappies, furniture, a lawnmower, clothing and tools.

Fire, smoke and water destroyed the family’s entire collection of possessions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

He then poured petrol over the heap and set it alight.

During sentencing after Hamilton’s guilty plea to one count of arson, Judge Nicolas Alexandrides said the fire, smoke and extinguishing water destroyed all the family’s personal belongings, leaving Hamilton’s children and wife with nothing.

His Honour said it was clear Hamilton’s ex-wife had suffered “serious adverse emotional” consequences because of the fire.

“Your daughters continue to have nightmares and have exhibited behavioural changes, the children do not understand why they cannot return to their home,” Judge Alexandrides said.

“The victim said that she does not feel safe unless she is with her family and that her self-esteem has been destroyed.”

He said the victim had “difficulty understanding” why Hamilton had burned down their home and feared for the effect on her children.

Members of the victim’s family attended the scene after Hamilton had lit the Elizabeth Vale home ablaze. Picture: 7NEWS

Following the blaze, Hamilton fled the home on Plaitford St just after 2am for the state’s South-East, where he was arrested around 9am on January 11 close to Mount Gambier.

He made no applications for bail before Mount Gambier Magistrates Court, and has been in custody since his arrest.

The court heard Hamilton and the victim had been in a relationship for 11 years, and their 10-year marriage had soured due to “disagreements” about parenting methods.

The court heard Hamilton had no prior history of criminal behaviour before the arson and had been only recently diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder.

In a letter to the court, His Honour said Hamilton had expressed “extreme remorse” for the abuse he perpetrated and during the hearing, he could be heard sniffling through the video link, but remained silent.

Hamilton was jailed for to three years and six months – reduced from four years and eight months by his 25 per cent guilty plea discount – with a two year non-parole period.

Originally published as Peter David Hamilton jailed for burning down Elizabeth Vale family home, destroying children's belongings