House-proud Adelaide homeowner jailed for setting untidy neighbour's property alight A HOUSE-proud tenant has been jailed for setting his neighbour's property alight in Adelaide after complaining about the untidy way she stored items in their common carport. Describing Aaron Scott McLean's actions as "aberrant," Judge Peter Brebner said the 42-year-old had become "depressed, frustrated and angry" over the carport dispute. McLean pleaded guilty in the South Australian District Court to arson, after he set fire last October to possessions his neighbour stored in the carport at the Adelaide Housing Trust home units block. Repairs cost $85,000, with the fire causing significant damage to his neighbour's premises and property, heat damage to her vehicle and smoke damage to McLean's unit. Judge Brebner jailed McLean for three years with a non-parole period of 14 months. He noted McLean was "extremely short of stature" which had led to severe difficulties in life and his medical problems had led to fears he ultimately will become paraplegic. About six weeks before the fire, the neighbour bought a bulky vehicle and was storing personal property in the carport. "You say that her vehicle was restricting access to your unit and that the carport had become unsightly as a result of her storing her personal possessions in it," the judge said. You took pride in your unit's appearance and the untidiness of the carport became a cause of concern to you. You say that you tried to talk all this through with her, however, you were unsuccessful, she reported you to the Housing Trust and tensions arose between you. On the night of the fire, McLean was drinking heavily before abusing his neighbour and threatening her through the screen door for about 20 minutes. It is plain that you wanted her to take your threats seriously and, as a parting shot, you announced your intention to set fire to her unit. The judge said the arson was "very much on the spur of the moment" and McLean had tried to put the fire out.