AN angry father who went to his child's home after he wouldn't answer his phone and set fire to a jerry can full of fuel, has been jailed for three months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kaleb Sherwell, 36, previously of Walders Road, Narrawong, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to reckless conduct endangering serious injury and breaching a court order with intent to harm.
He was jailed, but appealed against the severity of the prison term and has been released on appeal bail to live in Portland's Wellington Road.
Police said that on the morning of Boxing Day last year Sherwell called his secondary school aged son, upset him and the boy refused to take his calls.
At 9.20am Sherwell attended at the home of his former partner and their children.
His ex-partner's sister and another friend were also at the address.
Sherwell approached the home, appeared intoxicated, walked to the rear yard and then re-appeared to call his ex-partner names.
He said he wanted to see his children and was angry because his son wouldn't answer his calls.
Smoke was seen coming from the back yard and the friend and the son went there and found a red plastic jerry can on fire on a small patio.
Flames about one metre tall were coming out of the can.
The friend tried to move the can off the patio but it was extremely hot, fuel spilt out which started another fire.
The can was moved to a grassed area and the child put out the flames with dirt.
The fire was near a barbecue and gas cylinder.
Police officers and a Country Fire Authority unit attended.
When the boy checked his phone he had 30 missed calls from Sherwell.
The following day Sherwell attended the Portland police station where he was apologetic and said he was disgusted in his behaviour.
Sherwell has previously been in court for breaching orders, assaults and for keying his ex-partner's car.
