A Hunter Valley volunteer firefighter has been refused bail after being charged with deliberately lighting a number of bushfires in New South Wales. 18-year-old Jack Hardidge has faced court on 15 charges.
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00:00 Detectives started investigating several suspicious fires in the region earlier this month.
00:07 18-year-old Jack Hardidge was then arrested at Aberglasen yesterday morning.
00:12 He was charged with 15 offences, including 13 counts of intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.
00:20 Police allege he deliberately lit grass fires at several towns, including Greta, Aberglasen and Cessnock, in July and August.
00:28 Mr Hardidge appeared at Maitland Local Court today.
00:31 In court, the prosecution said there was an unacceptable risk to the community which no bail condition would mitigate.
00:38 The court heard Mr Hardidge's mother recently died suddenly with a blood clot and that he had attempted to resuscitate her but she died in his presence.
00:47 His lawyer said the 18-year-old had been trying to distract himself since.
00:52 Mr Hardidge has been refused bail to appear at court again next month.
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