An arsonist who torched an historic 5.4-million-dollar Christchurch villa has been jailed 21 May 2021
Jonathon Gary Brown earlier admitted the arson of the 105-year-old Park Terrace house, bordering Hagley Park, in January.
No one was inside the family home at the time but its owners say it s left them truly devastated .
Today, the Christchurch District Court heard Brown has longstanding issues with alcohol dependency.
Judge Quentin Hix sentenced Brown to four years, eight months in prison saying it wasn t realistic to make a reparation order.
Joseph Johnson/Stuff
The Christchurch home, built in 1915, suffered “catastrophic damage” estimated to be about $3m, and was deemed “irreparable”.
A man who caused millions of dollars worth of damage when he torched a 105-year-old Christchurch home says he felt compelled to light the fire after a “feeling came over him”. Jonathon Gary Brown pleaded guilty to arson on Wednesday while appearing at the Christchurch District Court via video link. According to the court summary of facts, Brown entered the historic villa in Park Tce, which was valued at $4 million, on January 23 at about 11.42pm. The occupants were not home.