Man pleads guilty to burning down brother's house amid severe paranoia
An Ironbark man pleaded guilty to burning down his brother's home while suffering extreme paranoia, believing people were trying to kill him.
Simon Hayden Dallas, 38, set fire to his brother's house in Kangaroo Flat on September 12, 2024. Dallas used petrol to ignite the carpet.
The damage cost about $225,000 to repair. Court heard Dallas had become extraordinarily paranoid while staying at his brother's home, believing he was in danger.
Dallas's lawyer said the fire was not an act of spite or motivated by insurance. Dallas had struggled with methamphetamine and GHB addiction and suffered mental health decline.
His concreting business had collapsed after his van blew up and a rental car was rammed. His brother wrote to the court that he recognised Dallas's difficult childhood and drug use contributed to the offending.
- Simon Hayden Dallas, age 38
- Defendant
- September 12, 2024
- Fire date
- about $225,000
- Repair cost estimate
- October 27, County Court in Bendigo
- Court appearance
Why it mattersThe case shows how mental illness and drug addiction can spiral into crime, and how family support can persist even after severe harm.
AustraliaLocal to Victoria; signals broader concerns about mental health crisis response and rehabilitation access in regional Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
