Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court: David Stuart Moore guilty of setting fire in a backyard

A Gippsland machine operator grabbed a gas cylinder, aimed it at construction materials in a backyard and set them alight before panicking and fleeing the scene.

David Stuart Moore, 35, faced the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josie Hayden

A Latrobe Valley machine operator stole booze and set fire to equipment in a man’s backyard, causing almost $2000 worth of damage.

David Stuart Moore, 35, appeared at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to theft from shop and criminal damage by fire.

The court heard on one occasion, Moore entered a Dan Murphy's store, grabbed a ten pack of cans valued at $70 and left the store without paying.

He was later charged, bailed and banned from the store.

On August 18 last year, Moore was in the backyard of a home in Traralgon, grabbed a gas cylinder, opened the nozzle and pointed the cylinder toward construction material before setting it alight.

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The material was engulfed in flames and Moore panicked and tried to use the cylinder to extinguish the blaze before fleeing the scene.

The fire spread quickly to a boundary fence which alerted one of the next door neighbours who called the fire brigade and tried to put the fire out themselves with a hose while they waited.

The court heard $200 worth of damage was done to the pile of construction and damage to the fence was about $1000.

Moore was arrested days later and taken to the Traralgon police station.

His defence lawyer told the court Moore knew he made a “silly mistake” and had suffered from financial hardship.

Magistrate Tim Walsh placed Moore on an adjourned undertaking for 18 months.