Arabic version: رجل يُحكم عليه بالسجن بسبب قصف مدرسة إيدن الثانوية بزجاجات حارقة بسبب مزاعم إساءة
Steele Wilson has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for firebombing his former high school, Eden Marine High School, located on the New South Wales South Coast. According to ABC News, Wilson, 59, pleaded guilty last year to charges of break and enter and destroying property after he filled plastic bottles with petrol and mineral oil to start three fires at the school in December 2024.
During the sentencing at Bega District Court, Judge Nicole Noman revealed that Wilson planned the attack following his disclosure of having been subjected to childhood sexual abuse at the premises. He claimed to have been a victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by two separate teachers during his time there.
The firebombing caused significant damage, estimated at over $580,000, affecting the school’s science lab, demountable classrooms, and staffrooms. The court heard that three cleaners, who had started their shift at 3am, noticed the fire and quickly alerted authorities, which helped contain the blaze.
CCTV footage captured Wilson at the scene, and DNA evidence linked him to the incident. Despite his claims of abuse, Judge Noman noted his lengthy criminal history and the high risk of reoffending, sentencing him to four-and-a-half years in prison, with eligibility for parole set for November 2027.
