SA court says arsonist Donald Roy Lonsdale deserves more than two years' jail for his crime A MAGISTRATE says an arsonist who set a legal aid office alight, then threatened to start further fires, deserves more punishment than she can impose. Adelaide Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath today said Donald Roy Lonsdale's crimes warranted more than two years' jail - a punishment that, under state law, she cannot hand down. She instead remanded him in custody to face the District Court next month, saying a judge had the power to impose the sort of sentence Lonsdale should serve. Lonsdale, 44, has pleaded guilty to one count of arson of a building or motor vehicle. In August 2011, while in an "irate state," he poured petrol on to the counter of the Wakefield St Legal Services Commission office and lit it with a cigarette lighter. The flames reached nearly 50cm high and spread over a distance of almost 2m. During sentencing submissions on Monday, Lonsdale fired his lawyer mid-sentence and threatened to torch the Adelaide Magistrates Court if he was ordered to pay compensation . Today, Ms McGrath said she had given Lonsdale's case great consideration. "I've formed the view that the sentence I think appropriate is greater than two years' jail," she said. Under amendments to state law, made this year, magistrates can impose sentences greater than two years' duration - but only for offences committed after July 1, 2013. She ordered Lonsdale - who has spent the past 27 months in custody - face the District Court in two weeks.