Frankston Magistrates’ Court: Harley Pettiford claims he wasn’t the one to burn down beach shed
A Frankston man who allegedly stole a stand-up paddle board is also accused of burning down a beach shed in Dromana.
South East
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A young man has denied burning down a beach shed on the Mornington Peninsula foreshore after he allegedly stole a paddleboard from another.
Harley Pettiford, 26, of Frankston, appeared in the Frankston Magistrates Court on Monday where he was contesting charges of arson, theft, and other matters.
The court heard Mr Pettiford allegedly broke into a beach shed along Safety Beach, Dromana on February 1 this year where he stole a stand up-paddle board and paddle before setting fire to a curtain.
It is then alleged Mr Pettiford travelled to the Dromana foreshore where he allegedly dumped the stand-up paddle board at another beach shed before allegedly setting it alight.
The shed was “mostly destroyed” by the fire, the court heard.
Mr Pettiford’s defence argued there was no forensic evidence or witnesses linking him to the scene of the fire.
The Prosecution said they were relying on a statement from someone who alleges Mr Pettiford told them he had set the fire as well as some CCTV which placed Mr Pettiford in the area at the time of the fire.
Mr Pettiford is also facing unrelated theft and burglary charges in which police allege he stole a car at Mooroolbark a few weeks after the alleged arson.
A few days after that alleged car theft Mr Pettiford is accused of breaking into a Mt Martha address while the occupants were home.
It is alleged he stole the keys to a Toyota HiLux before leaving the home through the front door and driving away in the car.
Mr Pettiford is also facing charges relating to alleged petrol thefts and drug possession from 2022.
Defence told the court Mr Pettiford only took issue with the charges relating to the boat sheds.
Prosecution submitted there was a palm print matching Mr Pettiford on the door of the beach shed from which the paddle board was stolen and the paddle board was found at the burned down beach shed.
Mr Pettiford had spent 38 days in jail prior to the contested hearing and about 100 days at a rehab facility.
Magistrate Charles Tan said he could “see both sides” of the argument and the matter was adjourned for a special mention before going to contest.
