A 29-year-old Timaru man has admitted starting a house fire after an argument inside a rental property, leaving smoke damage and destroyed belongings.
Dwayne Michael Grant Wakefield-Cullen pleaded guilty to a charge of “other arson” when he appeared before Judge Campbell Savage at the Timaru District Court on Tuesday. He has been remanded on bail until January 15, 2026, when he will be sentenced.
The case centres on events from July 31, 2025. Wakefield-Cullen had spent the night at the victim’s home but the following morning was asked to leave because the woman had a headache. The court was told the request sparked a heated argument that escalated.
As the dispute continued, Wakefield-Cullen took a small bottle of hand sanitiser and sprayed it across the top of the woman’s dresser, knowing it was highly flammable.
He then picked up one of her belongings, lit it with a cigarette lighter, and held it burning in his hand before throwing it back onto the furniture.
He told the victim he was “only joking” as he walked out, but within moments a smoke alarm sounded.
When the woman rushed back into her room, flames were already climbing up the mirror on the dresser and consuming items placed on top
She managed to douse the fire with a bucket of water from the bathroom, helped by another person in the house, but police confirmed the dresser and much of its contents were destroyed. Smoke damage spread throughout her room and into upstairs areas.
The total cost of reparation is still being assessed
The Paper 