Bradley Joe Roberts, 27, allegedly committed two lots of offences at Ampol service stations in Canberra. Photo: Ampol Australia Facebook.
An alleged wannabe arsonist accused of trying to light a gas bottle on fire next to a petrol pump at a service station has been refused bail.
Bradley Joe Roberts allegedly went to the Ampol service station in Calwell on 21 March where he tried to light a gas bottle with a lighter and fuel at one of the petrol pumps, the ACT Magistrates Court heard.
He was arrested and granted bail on conditions, including that he not return to that service station.
But just one week later, Roberts allegedly went to the Ampol service station in Conder where he threw a brick through a glass door, shattering it, and also used a brick to threaten a customer.
He was arrested again in early April and handed charges that included robbery, attempted arson and damaging property over all the allegations.
He remained in custody before applying for bail in the Magistrates Court on Tuesday (10 June), which was opposed by the prosecution, partly based on the alleged risks he posed of endangering people’s safety.
The 27-year-old’s defence lawyer said, according to court documents, he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the allegations from Calwell.
He said that since being arrested, his client had made attempts to get into a full-time residential drug rehabilitation program.
The lawyer argued that as his client was still a young person, it was in the community’s interest that he enter such a program and he had never had that option before.
Magistrate Ian Temby said the alleged acts Roberts engaged in demonstrated a risk to the safety of the community, which was significant.
He also said it was alleged he’d demonstrated a lack of regard for the bail conditions imposed in March.
The magistrate ultimately said he didn’t have confidence Roberts would comply with bail conditions or the terms of a residential rehabilitation program and refused bail, which means he remains in custody.
The matter was adjourned to 19 June. It was unclear if pleas had been entered.
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