Turi Neihana Gordon-Smith (aka Gordon-Smith-Pahi), 23, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting two charges of arson.
The court heard the defendant lit eight fires between September 2 and 23.
He set fire to things at the Dunedin Botanic Garden and Woodhaugh Gardens, including rubbish bins, a fence and a flax bush.
Gordon-Smith took photos of the fires he set and of attending firefighters, the court heard.
He committed the arson offences while on bail for a road-rage incident on May 17 last year.
Gordon-Smith also admitted two charges of drink-driving and charges of dangerous driving, resisting police, wilful damage and failing to stop and ascertain injury after a crash.
The court heard a vehicle flashed its headlights at the defendant because his headlights were off.
He responded by speeding to catch up to the motorist, but failed to navigate a turn and crashed into another car, shunting it on to a footpath.
Gordon-Smith fled the scene, but was later found by police, who conducted an evidential breath test. The defendant blew 656mcg — more than twice the legal limit.
While breath-testing procedures were under way, Gordon-Smith hit a police officer’s phone, causing it to break.
Yesterday, Judge David Robinson said the defendant must have got "some form of pleasure" from lighting the fires given the photographs he took.
He highlighted the potential harm the blazes could have caused, but noted the defendant’s youth, mental health struggles and personal circumstances at the time of his offending.
Counsel Philip Ross described the defendant’s behaviour as "mindless stupidity" and advocated for a sentence of home detention.
Judge Robinson said he could not impose a community-based sentence "in good conscience" at that point.
He sentenced Gordon-Smith to 12 months’ imprisonment, but gave him leave to apply for home detention.
The judge said if the defendant "knuckled down" in custody, he would likely commute the sentence to home detention when the defendant applied.
Judge Robinson said he saw potential in Gordon-Smith and hoped the sentence would give him some incentive to work on himself.
