Businessman’s ‘selfish, callous’ disregard for safety in $5.5m factory arson
A man who set his Brisbane business on fire, causing millions of dollars in damage, has been slammed in court for his ‘shockingly selfish’ actions.
A businessman who set his ailing Brisbane company alight in a bid to alleviate debts showed a “shockingly selfish and callous disregard” for the safety of others, a court has been told.
Family supporters packed Brisbane District Court on Tuesday as Scott Gregory Stirling, a former director of car repair business All Bumpers and Headlights, learned his fate for starting the factory-yard fire north of Brisbane in September 2017.
The blaze caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to neighbouring businesses, with one losing millions more from lost trade.
Last Friday, a jury found Stirling, 41, guilty of one count of arson and four counts of endangering a property by fire.
Stirling pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his defence team arguing any suggestion he lit the fire for financial gain were superficial.
The court was told 107 firefighters and 24 fire trucks were required to contain the blaze that Stirling started at the Virginia business, north of Brisbane, on September 24, 2017.
The blaze caused $5.5 million in damage to neighbouring businesses.
At the time, Stirling was more than $570,000 in debt.
The court was told Stirling’s wife, who owned the business, expected to receive a claim from insurers after the blaze.
On Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Brendan White said the arson was premeditated.
He said a particularly serious feature was that Stirling’s wife was present in the building when the fire started and he left himself seconds to escape the blaze.
Mr White said neighbouring businesses with staff still inside and the lives of other firefighters were put at risk.
“In the crown’s submission, it is a shockingly selfish and callous disregard for the safety of others and the economic consequences of his actions,” Mr White said.
Judge Orazio Rinaudo sentenced Stirling to eight years’ jail.
He took into account numerous references submitted by his defence barrister Justin Greggery that outlined his good character and hardworking nature.
Mr Greggery said his client had worked constantly since age 15 and had a vast industry knowledge.
“Arson is an offence which causes significant issues in the community, not only in respect of the possibility of loss of life but also … the need for firefighters, in your case substantial firefighters, to come and fight the fire, and the damage that is caused,” Judge Rinaudo said.
Stirling will be eligible for parole in May 2024.