Man ‘Accidentally’ Dials 000 And Reveals Plans To Burn Friend’s House Down
He then said he’d dialled the wrong number and ended the call.
A young intoxicated man has landed himself in front of a judge by dialling Emergency Services and disclosing his arson plans.
Nathan Keen called Triple 0 on November 12 last year and said he was going to burn someone's house down.
He then said he'd dialled the wrong number and ended the call.
When the 000 operator called Keen back, he disclosed he was sitting outside his friend's house with a jerry can and was going to tip petrol on it and burn it.
Keen alleged at the time that his friend had made comments about harming his three-year-old daughter.
He then changed his story and said he was actually just leaving his own house to get to his friend's place.
Police in fact found Keen at his own house.
They attempted to come to a 'peaceful resolution', however the 21-year-old told them as soon as they left, he would go and start the fire.
He was then arrested for threatening violence and transported to the watch house.
Throughout bail and court proceedings it emerged that Keen never had a jerry can, despite his threats, and had never left his home.
His defence lawyer, Erin Dwan, also noted her client was intoxicated at the time of his alleged offending, which could somewhat explain his behaviour.
She acknowledged the seriousness of the charges, but put forward that he never had any intention of carrying out his threats.
The court was told Keen also struggles with depression, anxiety and anger management issues and has Asperger's syndrome.
Dawn said Keen regularly sees a counsellor and hadn't had any alcohol since the incident.
He is due to start work as an apprentice tattooist today.
He pleaded guilty to the charges, which Magistrate Dennis Kinsella took into account, along with his clean criminal history and his age.
According to The Courier Mail, Kinsella acknowledged Keen's health issues and his "full and frank" admissions
"It seems that you've got matters well and truly in hand," he told the offender.
"To my mind, the appropriate outcome would be one of a fine."
No conviction was recorded, but Keen was fined $500.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyVivienne Kelly