A Waihola man has admitted he set fire to one car and tried to burn eight others and the local publican after being thrown out of a bar in June because he was drunk.
Boyd Edward Cuttance, a 43-year-old nursery worker, was refused entry to the Lake Waihola Cafe and Bar about 8pm on June 18 when his level of intoxication attracted the bar manager's attention.
After an altercation, Cuttance was forcibly removed to the car park. He took a container of petrol from his car and walked along a line of vehicles outside the restaurant, pouring petrol over nine of them before setting fire to the last car in the line, a Toyota Corona.
He then drove out of the car park and stopped about 200m away.
When bar manager Kevin Reid was told about the fire, he went outside with a fire extinguisher and put out the blaze. He then challenged Cuttance, who had returned to the car park carrying a petrol container in each hand.
Cuttance ran from the scene, followed by Mr Reid and several others. At one stage, he turned, put both petrol containers in one hand and sloshed petrol at Mr Reid, whose clothing was splattered with the fuel. Cuttance began flicking the cigarette lighter, trying to ignite the petrol.
He was tackled to the ground but during the ensuing struggle, continued flicking the lighter.
Members of the public and an off-duty police officer restrained Cuttance until the police arrived.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
As a result of his actions, Cuttance was committed for trial on 11 indictably-laid charges.
But, in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, he pleaded guilty to 10 of the charges - one of arson, eight of attempted arson and one of assaulting Mr Reid. Crown counsel Robin Bates said no evidence was being offered on the 11th count, a charge alleging a third or subsequent drink-driving offence.
On the 10 charges he admitted, Cuttance was convicted by Judge John Macdonald and remanded on bail for sentence on November 28. He was discharged on the drink-driving allegation.
Counsel John Westgate said Cuttance now accepted what he had done during a period of extreme intoxication.
Since being released on bail, he had been living at his mother's home without any problems.
He had completed a course with the Community Alcohol and Drugs Service, had started another course and was working full time.
