Alleged Albany arsonist pleads guilty to industrial office unit fire, charge committed to District Court

A man has admitted to burning down an office building in Albany’s industrial area in December, causing $38,000 in damage. The damage figure was revealed in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday when the accused, Shane Rex Mascull, 53, appeared via video link from Hakea Prison on one charge of criminal damage by fire. Mr Mascull entered a guilty plea to the charge laid over the fire at the transportable office unit on Chester Pass Road in Milpara, which occurred on December 3. The fire caused extensive damage to the building and took three fire crews about an hour to fully extinguish. During Mr Mascull’s first court appearance on December 6, the court was told he was leasing the unit and set fire to it by “unknown means” about 8.30am. A witness saw smoke coming from the unit and used his mobile phone to film a man, alleged to be Mr Mascull, leaving. During that court appearance, Police Prosecutor Sgt Mike Russell told the court Mr Mascull was homeless and itinerant, and had more than 100 charges on his record for offences committed in other States. When his bail was refused, he began yelling aggressively and was removed from the courtroom by security officers. On Thursday, Magistrate Dianne Scaddan committed the charge to the Albany District Court with the next hearing scheduled for June 28, and ordered a pre-sentence report and psychological report.