In court on fire charges

By CASEY NEILL
A DANDENONG man has faced court over nine fires at and around his Clow Street home between 3 and 14 October.
Police arrested Matthew Kingston, 33, on Monday 15 October and charged him with nine counts of criminal damage causing a fire and two counts of conduct endangering life.
On Tuesday Dandenong Magistrate Gerard Bryant granted him bail with several conditions.
He must live at a certain address until alternative accommodation is found and a doctor gives him the okay to leave.
He must notify Greater Dandenong CIU of any new home 24 hours before moving, is not allowed outside between 6pm and 6am unless accompanied, cannot go within 200 metres of Clow Street without police, and cannot drink alcohol.
Det Sen Const Sullivan said the fires all occurred between 9pm and 2.30am, and one gutted a communal laundry at Kingston’s home at 60 Clow Street on 12 October, causing up to $20,000 damage.
That blaze and another on a couch outside the apartment block that spread to an awning attracted the conduct endangering life charges.
Det Sen Const Sullivan appealed for witnesses to a fire lit in a bin using dry grass at 34 King Street, outside Dandenong Community House, between 8.30am and midnight on 14 October.
Kingston’s solicitor, Greg Martin, told the court his client had mental health issues, including a major depressive disorder.
Mr Martin said a private hospital had a bed available for Kingston and he had no prior convictions.
Magistrate Bryant told Kingston he was “charged with some very serious offences” and his “mental health issues needed to be attended to sooner rather than later”.
He warned him that if he offended again while on bail “you’re going to spend a lot longer in the cells”.
“Get the help you need and we’ll see you back here on 13 November,” he said.
Kingston is to attend a mention hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 13 November.