Arthur More convicted for 'terrifying' arson of Queensland home
A court heard More rammed the home several times before setting it on fire. (ABC Wide Bay: Lucy Loram)
In short:
Arthur More was convicted of arson for destroying a home in Queensland's Fraser Coast region.
The court heard More rammed the home with his car several times before setting it on fire.
What's next?
More was sentenced to five years in prison, eligible for parole in 2026.
A man sent his wife a picture of jerry cans in his car before ramming it into her home and setting it on fire, a Queensland court heard.
Arthur More, 33, appeared in Hervey Bay District Court via video link from custody on Thursday and pleaded guilty to arson and dangerous operation of a vehicle.
More's wife fled the house through a back door but the property was destroyed along with the possessions inside, the court heard.
Judge Carl Heaton described the offending as "terrifying" and "extremely serious".
More was sentenced in Hervey Bay District Court on Thursday. (ABC Wide Bay: Jake Kearnan)
The court heard More and his wife had a disagreement which ended their relationship the day before the incident on January 20.
Fuel cans emptied into home
Crown prosecutor Daniel Sampey said More sent his wife a text message the next day telling her to "get the f—k out of the house" by 3pm, together with photos of jerry cans in his car.
The court heard More drove the vehicle into the carport of the house in Aldershot, north of Maryborough, at 3pm.
It heard he hit a post and then repeatedly reversed his car "squarely into the inside of the house".
The court heard he took two jerry cans out of his car and emptied fuel inside the house before climbing out of a back bedroom window.
More's defence barrister, Peter O'Connor, told the court his client's last memory of the event was of setting fire to a pair of pants before waking up in the backyard when emergency services arrived.
The court heard witnesses saw More lighting a piece of fabric and throwing it through a window of the house, setting it on fire.
A neighbour called triple-0 and emergency services personnel arrived on the scene soon after the fire started.
They reported seeing More with burn marks to his face, neck and upper body.
Arsonist apologises
Mr O'Connor told the court a psychology report found More, who was born in Bundaberg, was diagnosed with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder as a child.
More wrote a letter of apology to the court, which Judge Heaton said "demonstrates the insight you have in relation to this offending and your commitment to address the factors which resulted in this seriously criminal conduct".
"You deliberately destroyed (the home) … it would have been terrifying," Judge Heaton said.
He sentenced More to five years in jail.
With time already served, More will be eligible for parole on September 19, 2026.