Daryl Jackson sets fire to public housing in Richmond
A Richmond man living in public housing banged on his neighbours’ doors and told them to get out after setting fire to his own apartment, forcing residents to be evacuated at night.
Tenants living in state housing units in suburban Melbourne were evacuated after a man set fire to his own apartment at night, yelling “I don’t f-----g care”, a court has heard.
Daryl Jackson ignited a sofa and a mattress in his Clark St, Richmond apartment lounge just after 9pm on August 18, 2024 before alerting his neighbours of the fire.
He then banged on a neighbour’s door and yelled “Get out, I set it on fire” while another neighbour heard him say “I’ll burn the house down, I don’t f-----g care”.
The 38-year-old was sentenced in the County Court on Friday to a minimum of two years’ imprisonment on a charge of arson.
The court heard that neighbours heard Jackson yelling expletives before and after the fire which caused at estimated $143,000 in damage, according to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, which owns the units.
A neighbour, who was on the phone to emergency services, saw Jackson running to a neighbouring unit, banging on the door and yelling “F—k, why, why, why?”
Firefighters forced entry to four units and evacuated the residents. They managed to save Jackson’s apartment and other units.
One person was treated for asthma and smoke inhalation. Police observed Jackson behaving erratically on Clark St and was arrested and taken to Richmond police station where he denied the offending.
Judge David Sexton said although no victim impact statements were filed, Jackson’s actions would have been frightening for his neighbours and others in the area.
“Your offending occurred in the evening, at a time when there would likely be residents at home. Your actions placed numerous people at significant risk of serious harm,” he said.
Jackson was sentenced to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment.
