3 days ago
Man jailed after setting off fire hydrants at Australian Bragg Centre, causing 'significant water damage'
A man who was found in his underwear and chewing on an espresso pod after causing over $7 million of damage to a building in Adelaide's CBD has been jailed for at least 18 months.
Daniel Michael Loeser, 32, of Ingle Farm, was sentenced in South Australia's District Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to one count of serious criminal trespass and one count of damaging a building.
District Court Judge Geraldine Davison said Loeser had entered the Australian Bragg Centre in the early hours of January 5 and set off fire hydrants on six levels of the building, causing "significant water damage".
In sentencing, Judge Davison said the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) arrived at the building at 1:20am and "noticed extensive flooding on level two of the building".
"Special tools [were] needed to open the door, behind the [stairwell] door the water had been backed up to approximately a metre in height," she said.
"The risers to the fire hydrant valves on levels eight to 15 had each been manually opened, causing the flooding.
"The entire building suffered significant water damage amounting to a total sum of about $2 million, but with other costs associated with getting the building rectified, the damage is now currently claimed to be over $7 million."
Judge Davison said Loeser was then found in the kitchen on one of the floors.
"You were wearing nothing but your underwear and chewing on what appeared to be an espresso pod whilst holding several knives in your hands," she said.
She said Loeser had been released from the Adelaide Remand Centre shortly before the offending, where he had been held for separate charges.
"It was shortly after your release on bail that you were wandering through the city and came across the Bragg Centre, you were at that time coming off GHB and a submission was made [that] you had been up for several days," she said.
"There is no dispute that you were in a state where you were significantly affected by substances at the time that you entered the Bragg Centre.
"This state of intoxication at the time likely resulted in a reduced understanding of your behaviour and impaired ability to control it."
Judge Davison said Loeser told a psychologist he was trying to gain access to the Royal Adelaide Hospital when he broke into the medical centre.
"You didn't intend to trespass in the building or damage property by activating the sprinklers, but rather you were attempting to access the hospital in order to receive treatment for your self-induced mental health issues," she said.
She said Loeser's actions not only caused property damage but caused distress to the tenants.
"By your reckless behaviour, you have caused significant damage and undoubtedly this has been distressing for many people who have had to deal with the aftermath of your behaviour," she said.
Loeser was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was backdated to when he was taken into custody on January 5, meaning he will be eligible for parole in June next year.
