Ice addict arsonist has jail sentence slashed at Court of Appeal

A SERIAL arsonist who set fires while high on ice and then belted a firefighter with an axe has had his jail sentence slashed by almost half.

Charlie Tannous set fires while high on ice and then belted a firefighter with an axe.

A SERIAL arsonist who set fires while high on ice and then belted a firefighter with an axe has had his jail sentence slashed by almost half because the sentencing judge failed to take into account his acquired brain injury.

Charlie Tannous was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and six months jail by County Court Judge Lance Pilgrim last year for a series of arson attacks and an assault on emergency worker in June 2015.

The terrifying attacks on cars occurred in a townhouse complex in Meadow Heights where an agitated Tannous had gone to contact an ex-girlfriend.

Tannous attempted to set fire to a fire truck before chasing a firefighter, striking him with an axe to the ankle.

At the time the now 27-year-old was high on ice, had already done jail time for assault, and was on bail for offences including unlawful assault and possession of an axe.

But Court of Appeal Justices Anne Ferguson and Robert Redlich said Judge Pilgrim’s sentence failed to adequately take into account Tannous’ mental health problems.

“It is important that the judge’s reasons include more than an overarching statement that the offender’s mental impairment has been taken into account,” they said in the appeal judgment.

“The reader should not be left to ask how it has been taken into account. Rather, the judge’s reasons should provide the answer to that question.”

Tannous is one of ten children who suffered an acquired brain injury at age 19 when he was struck on the head with a sledge by gatecrashers at a party.

“In our view, the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive. It was not open to the judge to impose so harsh a sentence given the circumstances in which the offence was committed, and the health of the applicant both at the time of offending and when the sentence was imposed,” the judgement said.

“The principle of parsimony required that the period of incarceration be the shortest period that would achieve the purposes for which the sentence was to be imposed.”

Tannous was re-sentenced to four years jail, and will be placed on a community corrections order upon release for four years with conditions including drug and mental health treatment.