Photo: ODT filesA serial firebug who set fire to Dunedin’s biggest police station said he did it to get back to jail. This week at the Dunedin District Court, 32–year-old Andrew Downs was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to a charge of arson. It burned out after a minute — after causing nearly $1000 of damage — and Downs promptly handed himself in. The offence resulted in over $40,000 worth of damage and Downs was jailed for two and a-half years. But the judge said the defendant had no control over the extent of the damage once the fire was lit.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 27, 2026 17:04 UTC