A 37-year-old man who was under the influence of drugs when he stole a van from a house in Newstead was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston to nine months jail.
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Nicholas Leigh Ferrall, of Risdon Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing and one count of unlawfully setting fire to property on September 27, 2021.
Crown prosecutor Peter Sherriff said a 2016 Hyundai van belonging to a business trading as Electrodry was outside a house in Rowan Avenue, when Ferrall got in and drove off.
Police tracked his movements to Blessington and Nabowla via a GPS device fitted to the van.
When police located Ferrall at Underwood he ran away and shortly after the $24,000 van exploded into flames and was destroyed.
Mr Sherriff said floor cleaning equipment worth $20,000 and personal contents of the owner including adult toys worth $2000 were destroyed.
The court heard that Ferrall was presently serving a 25 week sentence handed down in the Launceston Magistrates Court.
Defence counsel Lucy Flanagan said Ferrall was confused why he burnt the vehicle which was his only transport.
Justice Robert Pearce said it was dreadful criminal conduct which was opportunistic when he found the van left running in the driveway.
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Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
