Jail safest place for son, says dad

A father made an emotional plea yesterday for his depressed son to be kept in jail for his own safety.

Halley Alan Waterhouse, 24, unemployed, was arrested and charged with attempted arson and threatening to kill his father after the incident on Tuesday.

Waterhouse's father, Greg Waterhouse, was choked up with emotion as he told Judge Allan Roberts in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday that his son – described in court as an intravenous drug user – had been going through hard times for a long time.

"We are really scared. He needs help. His hangups need to be dealt with. He needs to help himself."

In the dock, his son shook his head as his father spoke.

The court was told the father was recovering from cancer.

Waterhouse's lawyer, Paul Keegan, said the arson attempt was because his client had wanted his father's help after the son had been arrested for assaulting his partner on Sunday. The son's partner was in court to support him.

The attempted arson was caused by a fit of emotion in the "flavour of angst" rather than a genuine arson attempt, Mr Keegan said.

However, his father thought it was in his son's best interests to have him remanded in custody, Mr Keegan said.

Judge Roberts was sympathetic with the father saying that he was torn between the love of his son who was also causing the family untold grief.

Police opposed bail and there were concerns at the son's fragile state, he added.

The alleged attempted arson, where paper was screwed up and set fire to under the house, was disturbing, Judge Roberts said.

There had been three adults and two children in the house and the potential for danger was significant.

The judge, who said he must listen to victims' concerns, refused bail and called for Waterhouse to be monitored for his own safety during his time in custody and remanded him to reappear on January 21.

- © Fairfax NZ News