Mathew George Bradford: Alleged Denmark arsonist bailed despite police concerns about community safety

A South West man who allegedly lit multiple fires around the Denmark township and said a residential house “needed to be burnt down” has been bailed with strict conditions. Mathew George Bradford appeared in the Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with stealing, three counts of criminal damage by fire, and two counts of wilfully lighting a fire to injure or damage. The 49-year-old is accused of lighting five fires in Denmark and stealing from a residential property on the evening of February 1. Police prosecutor Sergeant Dylan Fisher said Denmark police arrested and charged Mr Bradford close to one of the residential properties after a short foot chase. Opposing bail, Sgt Fisher said the community could face “devastating consequences” if Mr Bradford was released. “Lighting fires in the middle of summer, especially in an area like Denmark, was extremely dangerous, and without the quick action taken any of these fires could have been within minutes of becoming an uncontrolled burn,” he said. Police say Mr Bradford was found with a lighter when apprehended and told witnesses that one of the houses he allegedly lit on fire “needed to be burnt down”. Defence counsel Bruno Illari said if granted bail, Mr Bradford would move to Narrogin, where he had a stable address and was “confident” he could find sustainable work. He said Mr Bradford intended to plead not guilty to all charges. Though concerned about the “possibility of offences of a similar nature”, Magistrate Erin O’Donnell granted Mr Bradford bail with a personal undertaking of $5000 and a curfew from 9pm to 6am, during which time he must report to police as required. He also cannot possess a lighter or any other ignition source outside of his home address. On the evening of February 1, Denmark police responded to reports of a fire at a residential address on South Coast Highway, two fires at the Seventh Day Adventist Church and one at a neighbouring residential property.