Arsonist says he spray-painted wall to put police off the scent

A BOILERMAKER spraypainted a house with the words “that’s for f***ing my wife” to try to conceal his identity after setting the home on fire.

The blaze destroyed the house and carport.

The court was told Kyle Lance Mansfield’s arson was “motivated entirely by malice and vengeance”.

The occupant of the home was the estranged partner of Mansfield’s stepmother. After pleading guilty to the arson on Tuesday, Mansfield (pictured) told the Bulletin he did not recall the graffiti. However, the court was told on Friday that he did not recall as he was under instructions from his solicitor not to comment about the graffiti.

In the Southport District Court on Friday, Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced Mansfield to four years prison for the arson, immediately suspended for four years.

The 30-year-old had pleaded guilty to multiple charges including arson, stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Mansfield offered to pay $20,000 compensation on Friday and a further $30,000 over the next two years.

On Friday, Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher told the court that on January 14, 2019 Mansfield took a number of items, including a passport, tinnie and car, from the Ashmore home.

He then set the Nissan Navara on fire. It spread to the carport and the house.

The former partner of Mansfield’s stepmother was renting the home.

The home had to be demolished. About $250,000 was paid by the insurer.

After the fire the words “that’s for f***ing my wife” were seen spray-painted on the side of the home.

Ms Gallagher said Mansfield painted the words in order to conceal his identity.

The tinnie Mansfield had stolen was found destroyed by fire in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Defence barrister Nick McGhee, instructed by Howden Saggers Lawyers, said Mansfield had gone to the home to take property.

He said when Mansfield returned the car “he made a momentary and stupid decision to burn that car fearing he may have left something on it”.

There was no accelerant used to start the fire, Mr McGhee told the court.

Mr McGhee said at the time of the fires Mansfield was using about 5g of the drug ice per week. A clean drug test was tendered to the court.