Matthew Thompson fronts court over arson in two locations
A hallucinating Melbourne man set fire in a hospital ward and at a disability care facility, fearing people were “out to get him”.
Wyndham Leader
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A Melbourne man with a “history for psychotic flare ups” lit a fire in a hospital ward and a disabled care facility because he feared people were out to get him.
Matthew Thompson, 48, was diagnosed with schizophrenia more than 30 years ago and a lack of proper treatment has contributed to his illicit drug use and crimes, the County Court had heard.
Thompson was sentenced to a two-year therapeutic corrections order when he appeared for sentencing on Monday on two charges of arson.
Thompson told a psychiatrist that people have been out “to get him” for some time and he asked prison staff to lock him in his room.
On December 28, 2022 he attended the psychiatric unit at Sunshine Hospital under a community treatment order and was unaware that he’d be admitted for further assessment. Judge Sarah Dawes said when advised of this, Thompson became upset and said he didn’t want to stay at the hospital.
After he was placed in the adult psychiatric unit in an isolated room, he set fire to a foam mattress and bedding using a small lighter that he had concealed. The fire caused smoke to spread into the ward, activating the fire sprinklers.
Hospital staff and patients in the ward had to be evacuated and after he told a nurse what you’d done, the hospital discharged him due to the risk he posed to other patients.
On February 22, 2023 at a disability support care facility in Tarneit where he lived, Thompson
believed a previous carer had taken money from him and became upset.
He broke his phone and went outside to calm down and upon returning, he blamed the facility manager for his disappointment.
A carer noticed smoke coming from the house and called 000 and informed the facility manager as well.
When the manager asked Thompson what had happened, he replied “I litted up” and laughed. Damage to the facility was estimated at $165,557.
Judge Dawes said Thompson had significant psychotic symptoms when he lit both fires and that ongoing mental treatment provided the most effective community protection.
Judge Dawes said the key to Thompson’s successful rehabilitation was for him to continue receiving treatment and to stay away from illicit drugs.
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