A man will appear in court today charged with allegedly lighting a fire at a service station in East Ballina earlier this week.

Just before 7.30am on Monday (23 May 2022), a man entered a service station on Links Avenue, East Ballina, and approached an attendant before he allegedly demanded cigarettes.

When the attendant refused, the man allegedly grabbed a bottle of flammable liquid and poured it onto nearby shelves, before setting them alight and leaving the store.

The attendant – a 57-year-old woman – was able to extinguish the flames; however, the store sustained damage. She was uninjured.

Officers from Richmond Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident. 

Following extensive inquiries, officers arrested a 41-year-old man at a campsite off Coast Road, East Ballina, about 1.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 25 May 2022).

He was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with damage property by fire/explosion.

He was refused bail to appear at Ballina Local Court later today (Thursday 26 May 2022).