Geraldton man Caleb Kenneth Allen sentenced for starting fire in Chapman Valley during meth-fuelled spree

A Geraldton man has been sentenced after starting a fire in Chapman Valley and breaking into a vacant building during a methamphetamine-induced offending spree. Caleb Kenneth Allen, pictured, appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday for sentencing on 12 charges from 2019 and 2020. The court was told the 25-year-old had recently been handed 13 months imprisonment in the District Court for assisting a person to escape justice and was released for time served after spending 410 days in custody. Prosecutor acting Sgt Dean Solman said Allen was caught on CCTV recklessly driving along a public access track near Mills Lookout after starting a fire in bushland about 9am on October 16, 2019. “This occurred during a total fire ban,” he said. “There were multiple ignition points.” Later the same day he broke into a vacant building in Geraldton, stealing a metal green box filled with keys and envelopes valued at $200. About 12.30pm he drove an unidentified woman away from the scene of a fire in Geraldton which tore through a large area and came within 50m of homes, leading to his District Court sentence. An hour later, he was stopped by police who found a blue lighter, a black blowtorch and accelerant in the vehicle. Allen was initially given bail on those charges, but was arrested again on April 5, 2020, for methamphetamine dealing and was found with knuckledusters and a baseball bat — leading to his lengthy prison stay. His lawyer Julia Gray told the court Allen had “grown up” while in jail and was ready to move on with his life and become a “productive member of society”. “Since being inside it’s taught him a valuable lesson, he’s grown up and never wants to go back,” she said. He was sentenced to an eight-month community-based order and fined $800 in what Magistrate Chris Miocevich called a “difficult sentencing exercise”. “You’ve had 410 days to dry out and get back on track,” he said. “Hopefully on this order we’ll help keep you on that path.”