The deliberate burning of property causing approximately $70,000 damage, even by a youthful first offender with excellent antecedents and an early guilty plea, is sufficiently serious that immediate imprisonment (rather than a suspended sentence) is within the proper exercise of sentencing discretion, given the importance of general deterrence in arson cases. The sentencing range for a single offence of arson in WA is in the vicinity of 3 to 5 years under the former regime (to be reduced by one-third under the current regime), with very serious cases attracting 4 to 7 years (also to be reduced by one-third).
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