The Cessnock community remains on edge as Jack Drayton, an alleged arsonist, faces court today after being charged with intentionally causing a fire that threatened local homes and properties. Drayton, currently out on bail, faces serious charges under Section 203E of the Crimes Act 1900, which carry a maximum penalty of 21 years imprisonment. His co-accused, 28-year-old Harley Barrett, is also charged as an accessory after the fact, accused of assisting in the reckless spread of the fires.
The charges stem from a series of bushfires that ignited on October 3rd, triggering an Emergency Warning and forcing the evacuation of residents from Kearsley and Abernethy, two towns near Cessnock, NSW. Thanks to the swift efforts of the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue, no casualties or structural damage occurred, but the trauma and fear caused by the fires linger in the community.
Jack Drayton, who is subject to strict bail conditions, is prohibited from entering bushland and must reside in Singleton. He is required to report daily to the Singleton Police Station and is under a curfew, preventing him from leaving his residence between 8 PM and 6 AM. The severity of these restrictions reflects the gravity of the allegations.
The fires in Kearsley are part of a concerning increase in bushfires in the Cessnock region, particularly unusual so early in the fire season. Suspicious fires in Aberdare and Old Maitland Road have also raised alarms, though no one has been charged in relation to these incidents. The Kearsley community anxiously awaits today’s court proceedings, hopeful that justice will be served and future dangers averted.