A 54-year-old Sofala man who pleaded guilty to lighting several fires in the Wattle Flat area was placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond in Bathurst Local Court last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Charles Christopher Regan, of Sofala Road, Sofala was placed on the bond for causing damage of between $5000 and $15,000 to the Wattle Flat Golf Club, golf course and race course between 7am on January 10, 2014 and 1pm on January 11, 2014.
He also pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally causing a fire and being reckless as to its spread on January 30 and 31. The magistrate convicted Regan on these charges, but ordered no further action be taken.
A psychiatric assessment had been sought by the court prior to sentencing on Tuesday.
The police facts stated that the only explanation the accused had for lighting the fires was his dislike for people in the Wattle Flat area who he believed were responsible for stealing and harming his dogs.
In an earlier bail hearing Legal Aid solicitor James Taylor told the court his client had moved to Sofala following the break up of his marriage and the death of his mother.
He moved around to various locations before buying a 300-acre property at Sofala, but his efforts to make a living failed because wild goats proved to be an enormous problem. Mr Taylor said the defendant got some dogs in the hope they would drive the goats away, but the dogs started disappearing.
Regan was convinced the people of Wattle Flat had harmed his pets.
The court was told the fires in the Wattle Flat area experienced on Friday, January 31 required a big response from emergency services, including the Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, the Ambulance Service and NSW Police.
The firefighting effort required four fixed-wing aircraft, three helicopters, three bulldozers, one excavator, 22 RFS tankers and 70 RFS personnel.
The total cost of bringing in the aircraft was $457,800, while the cost of earthmoving equipment totalled $18,000.
The court was told the fire was so large the risk of harm to human life and significant property damage was extreme.
