A WHAKATANE woman has been forced to live in a caravan since February, after her home was deliberately set alight by her son’s friend.
The arsonist, Jacob Hansen, was sentenced to home detention when he appeared in the Whakatane District Court last Wednesday, having previously pleaded guilty to charges of arson and disorderly behaviour.
The court heard that Hansen, 20, had limited cognitive ability and a long-held obsession with fire, which led to his decision to set the house (pictured) alight on February 28.
Both the woman and her son were sleeping inside at the time.
Earlier in the night Hansen had been drinking with the woman’s son at the family’s home in Riverside Drive.
Videos taken from Hansen’s phone show him purposefully burning himself twice with a lighter during the evening.
“This tells us that there is something wrong with you,” said Judge Louis Bidois.
Later that night, after falling asleep, the friend woke to Hansen shaking him and asking, “do you hear that popping noise?”
After discovering the home’s garage had been set alight, the friend ran inside and woke his mother.
Hansen remained outside and filmed the fire on his phone.
He was described as being “excited and amplified” by onlookers and was later aggressive towards police.
Judge Bidois said the fire caused significant threat to life as two people were asleep in the home at the time.
He also noted there was the chance the fire could have spread to neighbouring properties and firefighters were put at risk while extinguishing the fire.
The garage was gutted, and the house received extensive smoke and water damage. At the time, fire investigator Jon Rewi said the fire escalated quickly, moving from the attached garage and into the ceiling space.
The woman’s victim impact statement made for “harrowing reading”, said Judge Bidois.
She was forced to sell her home for $266,000 less than it was worth before the fire damage.
The financial impact had made it hard to turn her life around and she now lived permanently in a caravan.
The fire also resulted in problems at work because her employer had several items stored in the destroyed garage.
While the employer was fully insured, they were still upset at the loss of their belongings.
In addition to the financial impact there was also an emotional toll upon the woman.
The house had been their family home for 14 years and she had many happy family memories in it.
“This would be devastating and heart-breaking for anybody to deal with,” said Judge Bidois.
Since the arson, Hansen and his family have attempted to make amends for the woman.
Hansen has sold his car, his only asset, for $3500 which he offered to give to the victim.
He also offered, once he has gained employment, to pay the woman $50 per week for the next five years, which will amount to $13,000.
Lawyer Steve Franklin told the court if Hansen was unable to make those payments, his parents would on his behalf.
In sentencing, Judge Bidois acknowledged that Hansen had limited cognitive ability and used fire as a coping mechanism. “There have been stresses in your life which may have contributed to this fascination.”
He sentenced Hansen to 12 months’ home detention and ordered him to pay the offered $3500 in emotional harm reparation and $13,000 in damage reparation, which he called “a trivial contribution”.
charlotte.jones@whakatanebeacon.co.nz