Ironside offender Damien Fraser jailed for soliciting firebomb attack

An Operation Ironside accused – who solicited someone to firebomb a southern suburbs business as a favour for a co-accused motivated by vengeance – has been jailed.

An Operation Ironside offender who was asked if he could “send some boys to torch” a south western suburbs business in an act of vengeance has been jailed for eight years.

Damien John Fraser, 47, was asked by another accused via the encrypted AN0M app that was being secretly monitored by law enforcement agencies if he could do a “huge solid” and recruit someone to firebomb the Sturt Rd offices.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of counselling or procuring a person to commit arson over the January 2021 attack.

In sentencing, Judge Timothy Heffernan said the AN0M messages between the other accused and Fraser, who was known as FYC Captain on the platform, involved “a high degree of premeditation”.

He said the other accused had explained his sister had quit working for the business and that “a large amount of money was still owed to her”.

“He also expressed the belief that the employer had communicated with his sister in a manner which he found unacceptable,” he said.

As a favour, Fraser organised for another man to throw three molotov cocktails into separate windows at the heritage-listed building, which caused “severe damage” amounting to about $350,000. He also arranged for that man to be paid $5000 for the attack, receiving nothing himself.

Firefighters at the scene of the firebomb attack in January 2021. Pictures: 7 News Adelaide

Judge Heffernan said the men also discussed the other accused being seen at a distant location at the time of the firebombing in order to have an alibi.

After the attack, Judge Heffernan said the other accused allegedly messaged Fraser to say “nice work”.

He said Fraser subsequently offered to solicit additional arson attacks in exchange for money.

“Rather than experiencing any pang of conscience, you were quite happy with the idea of facilitating an ‘arson for hire’ service,” Judge Heffernan said.

The court has previously heard the business owner and employees had been left shocked and anxious following the attack, with some moving children out of street facing bedrooms.

Judge Heffernan said Fraser had spent much of his adult life either in prison or on parole and his prospects of rehabilitation were poor.

He said a letter of apology from Fraser was self-serving and his remorse was “primarily for the position in which you now find yourself”.

He jailed Fraser for eight years and three months with a non-parole period of six years, seven months and one week.

Originally published as Ironside offender Damien Fraser jailed for soliciting firebomb attack