Bradley Rochow denied bail over alleged Norlane arson attack
A Norlane man who allegedly poured an accelerant in his father’s bedroom to set his unit on fire has pleaded with a magistrate to grant bail.
Geelong
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A Norlane man accused of pouring an accelerant in his father’s bedroom and setting the house ablaze has been denied bail.
Bradley Rochow, 32, fronted Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with arson.
Emergency services raced to the Kalinga St scene after reports of a fire about 4.50pm on January 14.
No one was injured in the blaze and minor fire damage remains visible.
Mr Rochow was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal damage by fire (arson).
The court heard on Tuesday that police believed he was an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of the community, committing further indictable offences and interfering with witnesses.
Mr Rochow made a no comment interview following his arrest, the court was told.
Mr Rochow represented himself at the bail hearing before magistrate Ann McGarvie, who asked him why she should consider releasing him on bail.
He said he was working with a drug and alcohol co-ordinator from Salvation Army and was willing to enter a rehabilitation program.
Ms McGarvie said rehabilitation at a secure facility might be a circumstance where he would be bailed, however he would have had to have arranged it prior.
Mr Rochow said he wasn’t a danger to anyone in the community, however Ms McGarvie said she was not going to grant him bail.
“There are no conditions that have been put before me that would lead me to grant you bail,” she told Mr Rochow.
Mr Rochow pleaded with the court to grant him bail, saying he would do “anything”, however Ms McGarvie was unmoved.
“I know you’ll do anything, and you say you’ll do anything, but you’ve got to convince me,” she said, noting he was a known drug user.
The court heard Mr Rochow was withdrawing from GHB and ice.
A date was set for a committal mention and police must serve Mr Rochow’s solicitors with the case’s handup brief by March 3.
Mr Rochow was remanded in custody to reappear in court on April 22.
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