Prison term for arsonist with a grudge

Freaser Herewini

The man dubbed the Queen Street arsonist was this morning jailed for seven years for a string of fire attacks that created chaos across the city.

Fraser Herewini, aged 38, of Avondale was found guilty by a jury in the Auckland District court in April on three counts of arson and eight of damaging property by fire over an eight-hour period on July 15, 2003.

Passing sentence, Judge Graham Hubble, said that Herewini had an axe to grind.

"You are a 38-year-old male with a grudge. You have a propensity to live in a fantasy world, almost Walter Mitty."

The judge said it seemed that Herewini wanted to cause chaos for whatever reason.

"Perhaps so that you could sit and observe."

"It seems to be that you were annoyed, you had a grudge and you were determined to create chaos."

The judge took into account what he said was an increasing prevalence of arsons and said there was a need for the sentence to deter others.

The most significant damage was caused to the Guardian Trust building on Queen Street, which was being renovated for apartments, where the bill ran to more than $3 million.

A fire was also lit at the historic Old Government House where six people were sleeping.

Judge Hubble took into account the number of fires, the potential for loss of life - particularly at Old Government House - and the cost of the fires.

Many of the blazes were small, but Judge Hubble said that they could easily have got out of control.

The fire-lighting spree started 12 minutes after Herewini was released from the Auckland Central police station on a driving charge.