Serial arsonist Tammy Maree Duffy pleads guilty to arson, serious assault, stealing

A serial arsonist who would set her neighbours’ cars on fire stood by watching as the owners tried desperately to extinguish the flames, a court has heard.

A woman has pleaded guilty to setting three cars on fire in Brassall, as well as several offences of spitting on prison officers. Picture: File

A court has heard how a serial arsonist set her neighbours’ cars on fire and watched as the owners tried desperately to extinguish the flames.

Tammy Maree Duffy, 47, was taken into custody for the arson in 2019, but even being in lock up did not stop her offending and she continued to assault and spit on prison officers.

She pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on Wednesday to three counts of arson, one count of attempted arson, four counts of serious assault of a corrective service officer and three counts of assault of a corrective service officer (biting, spitting).

She also pleaded guilty to common assault, serious assault of a person over 60 and three charges of stealing.

Crown prosecutor Victoria Adams said Duffy’s offending began just one week after she was released on parole, when she stole $363.99 of items from Coles Riverlink in August, 2019.

She then set a man’s car on fire at a unit complex in Brassall on September 24.

Ipswich District Court heard Duffy had a lengthy criminal history..

The man and his neighbours rushed outside to try to extinguish the flames, to no avail.

Duffy was seen standing at a nearby bush and watching.

The car was engulfed by flames before firefighters arrived and managed to put it out.

Duffy approached the man the next day and said “Sorry that happened to your car, that’s a real shame that happened to you”, the court heard.

The vehicle was left with a melted dashboard and seats, damage to the engine, the bonnet and the windows and scorch marks on its exterior.

Ms Adams said the man bought a new car to replace the damaged one, but on November 1, 2019 Duffy set it alight.

The car was parked in the same spot and in the early hours of the morning the man was woken by neighbours telling him his car was on fire.

Duffy was seen standing near the bushes and watching the fire before firefighters extinguished it.

The dashboard, bonnet and passenger side of the vehicle were damaged.

Duffy set several neighbours’ cars on fire, the court heard. FILE PHOTO

Four weeks later, another resident at the unit complex heard a female voice yell “fire” and walked outside to discover her car was on fire, with flames billowing from between the windscreen and the bonnet.

Duffy was seen watching the fire from a courtyard as the woman tried to extinguish the flames with a garden hose, the court was told.

She was caught stealing from a newsagent and a gift shop earlier that day, and spat in the faces of a security guard and a witness who confronted her.

Three days later, on November 30, Duffy attempted to set another car in the complex on fire but was caught in the act by a neighbour, the court heard.

The neighbour saw Duffy, dressed in black, walk between a caravan and a car holding something that was on fire.

Ms Adams said the woman watched Duffy drop flaming material onto the bonnet of the car.

The woman turned on a hose to extinguish the fire.

Scorched leaves were later found nearby, believed to be the source of the flames.

Duffy was taken into custody that night and has been on remand since.

Ms Adams said it was “concerning” that Duffy had committed, been convicted of and committed crimes every year since 1997, with the exception of 2013.

She said there were a number of serious assault offences in Duffy’s history.

The court heard Duffy had also faced court previously for arson after she endangered a property by lighting “discreet” fires in a residential facility while on parole.

Duffy has been in custody since her arrest in 2019, serving out a previous sentence.

The court heard that during her time in custody Duffy had seriously assaulted several prison officers including by grabbing and digging her nails into them, kicking at them and spitting on them.

One on occasion Duffy refused to move for officers and said “If you touch me I will spit on you” before spitting on an officer.

The saliva landing on their cheek, forehead and lips.

Defence barrister Kim Bryson said Duffy had a genetic chromosomal disorder which contributed to behavioural problems, impulse control and learning difficulties.

She said Duffy was bullied and struggled academically at school, and was medicated for anger issues and impulsive behaviour from the age of eight.

She suffered significant trauma in her life including the death of her younger brother in a car accident and had been sexually assaulted.

The court heard Duffy gave birth to a girl while in custody in the early 2000s.

She was returned to prison and had the baby taken away from her within one hour of the birth.

Ms Bryson said Duffy spends her time “colouring in” and had been making an effort to stay out of trouble while in custody.

Judge Dennis Lynch adjourned the sentence to December 1 and Duffy was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Serial arsonist Tammy Maree Duffy pleads guilty to arson, serious assault, stealing