Arsonist sentenced

Joseph Tana, 45, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court to a charge of arson.

A man who set fire to a Whangarei District Council truck near a public park has been jailed for one year and three months.

Joseph Tana, 45, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court to a charge of arson.

The police summary of facts stated that Tana was at Laurie Hall Park in central Whangarei about 2.40pm on July 31. The public car park was filled to capacity at that time.

Tana walked up to a rubbish bin, rummaged through it and removed a piece of paper. He then walked to the council vehicle used to maintain parks, which had a double cab with an open tray at the back where petrol-powered weed trimmers were kept.

As he walked past the truck, he lit the piece of paper and threw it under the truck where engine fuel was spilt.

The truck went up in flames and was extensively damaged.

Tana casually walked away from the burning truck, owned by Recreational Services, towards the end of Laurie Hall service lane.

When approached by police, he became abusive and aggressive and refused to offer any explanation for his actions.

Staff members had left the truck at the park while they briefly attended a company awards presentation meeting nearby.

The fire set a plume of black smoke over the central business district.

A crowd of shoppers, high school students and other onlookers gathered in the park to watch as police arrived and took Tana into custody.