Cody Jye Cornelissens, 22, Corey James Peters, 24, and Charlie Ernest Keogh, 19, were sentenced to intensive corrections orders with 200 hours’ community service in Orange District Court on Friday for intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.

The court heard the trio spray painted and added lights to a red Ford Falcon, purchased by Peters for a couple of hundred dollars, before taking it for a drive along the tracks at the forest at about 9pm on January 8.

However, the bush bashing came to an abrupt end when the tail shaft broke on a steep ascent and, unable to tow it out of the forest, the group decided to set it alight. 

The blaze completely destroyed the car and burnt out 50 square metres of vegetation, but due to rain, no trees were harmed and the fire did not spread. 

Bricklayer Brad Jenner gave evidence on behalf of Peters and Cornelissens, saying subject to the court outcome, he would offer Peters an apprenticeship and Cornelissens further casual work. 

“He’s hard-working, he’s switched on, we can leave him and know stuff’s getting done,” Mr Jenner said of Peters.

Peters himself gave testimony about his prospects and said he had made more progress in the past year than the rest of his life combined.

“I want to keep moving forwards,” he said. 

Temika Keogh gave evidence supporting her brother, saying his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had not been medicated for years until June when he breached bail and was remanded in custody.

“Now he has respect – before, he didn’t give a s**t,” she said.

Judge Robert Sutherland labelled the behaviour “hooliganism at its worst” and said the courts took arson offences seriously, with an 14-year maximum jail term. 

However, considering the Ku-ring-gai bushfires’ perpetrator was sentenced to five years’ jail for deliberately lighting them so he could fight them with the RFS, Judge Sutherland said the Kinross matter was below the mid-range of seriousness.

He noted all three had past run-ins with methamphetamines, family issues and a variety of mental health problems ranging from ADHD to depression and also took into account Peters’ and Keogh’s progress since the offence.

Cornelissens was also jailed for three months because the offence breached four suspended sentences for disqualified driving. 

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