Man sentenced for arson that condemned Canberra apartment building
Alexander Peter Brown was sentenced to nearly 10 months. He set a fire that damaged a 15-unit apartment building in Lyneham.
On December 5, 2025, Alexander Peter Brown set a scooter on fire in the basement car park of a De Burgh Street apartment building in Lyneham. He did it on purpose.
Alexander Peter Brown lived in the building. He confessed right away and told a neighbor: I went downstairs and lit a scooter on fire.
The fire was so bad it made the entire 15-unit public housing complex unsafe. All residents had to leave.
Housing ACT gave them emergency housing while repairs continued. It cost the agency about $4,500 per week.
Repairs will take 12 to 18 months and cost at least $300,000. The ACT Supreme Court sentenced Brown to nearly 10 months in prison this month.
But he was let out right away because he had already spent that time in jail.
- December 5, 2025
- Fire date
- $4,500 per week
- Weekly rehousing cost
- At least $300,000
- Repair cost estimate
- 12 to 18 months
- Repair timeline
Why it mattersThis case shows how fire set on purpose can destroy public housing and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.
AustraliaFifteen ACT families lost their homes and remain in temporary accommodation as the building awaits repairs, highlighting the impact of arson on vulnerable public housing residents.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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