He then went into another unit and poured petrol over beds and lit a fire, causing the entire building to become “fully engulfed” and an estimated A$150,000 ($182,000) in damage, Trigger said.
The Courier Mail reported that a pregnant woman was living in the unit at the time but was away at her partner’s place that night.
She and her partner raced home after hearing about the incident to find that she had “lost everything”, including baby clothes for her child, according to reports.
The court heard Whyte then fled the scene in his work car to the main street, where, armed with an axe, he threatened patrons at a hotel.
CCTV footage reportedly showed Whyte hitting a man in the throat with the base of the axe before threatening to kill several others.
The hotel and a supermarket went into lockdown as Whyte destroyed aisles of a liquor store and smashed glass of two other shopfronts, the court heard.
Whyte then returned to the apartment complex where the arson first took place and assaulted the pregnant woman’s partner.
Trigger said Whyte “held a delusional view [the property] was being used in respect of pedophilia and child sexual abuse”.
Whyte then drove away from the scene again and assaulted two more people at their homes, including hitting one with his car.
“He caused considerable terror to all of the people in that township,” Trigger said, such that 18 000 (Australia’s equivalent of 111) calls were received in relation to the conduct that night.
The court heard that Whyte was eventually arrested after trying to steal a vehicle.
Defence barrister Scott McLennan said Whyte was suffering a psychotic episode, believing the apartment block was linked to drugs, paedophilia and corruption.
McLennan added that Whyte suffered from trauma from his childhood and had a history of mental health issues.
At sentencing on Friday, Judge Carl Heaton reportedly described Whyte’s rampage as an “extensive and gratuitous spate of violence and terrifying conduct”.
“I accept [mental health] reduces your moral culpability but not your criminal responsibility,” Heaton said, adding that Whyte’s “failure to responsibly manage” his mental health as well as his consumption of alcohol and drugs contributed to his tirade.
“The harm you caused to the individuals involved that night has been significant and cannot be overstated.”
Whyte was jailed for six years, with a minimum sentence of two years. He has already served 450 days in pre-sentence custody and will be eligible for parole on February 12 next year.
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