A Ravenswood man has been sentenced to time behind bars after lighting a fire that spread through a friend’s home, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Nathan Patrick Mayne, 41, who pleaded guilty to arson, was recently sentenced in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
The court heard Mayne lit a fire on the concrete floor of an open porch at the rear of the Ravenswood property on August 1, 2025.
The blaze eventually spread up the brick wall, catching the door frame, window frame, eaves and roof rafters. It also burst a PVC water main.
A neighbour called police and the fire brigade, who found Mayne inside the home in a rear bedroom.
Justice Robert Pearce said the damage would cost about $55,000 to repair.
“Arson is always a serious offence because of the risk it poses to property and persons, however this is not the most serious example,” Justice Pearce said.
Mayne admitted he did not intend to set fire to the structure of the house but accepted the spread of the fire was a likely consequence and acted regardless.
The court heard Mayne had been released from prison just days earlier and was affected by drugs at the time.
“You were released from prison on 25 July 2025. You went to live with your friend but this happened a very short time later,” Justice Pearce said.
Mayne has a lengthy criminal history stretching back to his youth, including a manslaughter conviction in 2008.
He has no prior convictions for arson or fire lighting.
The court was told Mayne had experienced disadvantage throughout his life, suffered from schizophrenia and struggled with illicit drug use.
However, his mental capacity was not found to be impaired at the time of the offence.
Justice Pearce said he considered ordering community corrections supervision but accepted Mayne was deemed unsuitable based on past experience.
“That will mean that the onus is on you to take the steps that you need to take to address your drug use and your mental health,” he said.
“If you reoffend it is almost certain that you will be returned to prison.”
Mayne had been in custody since August 1, 2025.
Justice Pearce sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspending the balance of the term for 12 months.
A compensation order was made in favour of the property owner.
