Man accused of setting fire to Harlaxton building held in custody

The Toowoomba man will celebrate his 35th birthday behind bars tomorrow after he was remanded in custody on a charge of arson.

Emergency services at the scene of a house fire in Jones St, Harlaxton, Monday, January 25, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A man accused of setting fire to a two storey building in Toowoomba on Monday will celebrate his 35th birthday behind bars tomorrow after he was remanded in custody.

Geoffrey Lackey was arrested and taken into custody Monday evening and remained in the watch house when his case was mentioned before Toowoomba Magistrates Court this morning.

His solicitor Michael McElhinney told the court his client would not be applying for bail at this time and asked for an adjournment.

Emergency services at the scene of a house fire in Jones St, Harlaxton, Monday, January 25, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Lackey is charged with one count of arson arising from a blaze that engulfed a two-storey building in Jones St, Harlaxton, about 4.30pm Monday.

Five Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews attended the fire which was quickly extinguished but not before the building sustained severe damage mainly to the bottom section.

Lackey was not required to enter any plea to the charge and Mr McElhinney said the matter would have to go up to the higher court and asked that a police brief of evidence be prepared.

There being no application for bail, Magistrate Graham Lee remanded Lackey in custody and adjourned the case for mention back in the same court on March 25.