Rockingham man Judge Ethan Birks spared jail after trying to set woman on fire

A Rockingham man was spared jail after trying to light his father’s “on again, off again” girlfriend on fire in a meth-fuelled rage. Judge Ethan Birks, 25, appeared in Rockingham Magistrate’s Court last week, charged with endangering the life of a person, stealing and common assault. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Jessica Anderson said on July 21, 2019 the victim drove to her partner’s house, where Birks was living, after discovering her possession of meth was missing. When she arrived at the house Birks asked, “who are you?” before slapping her in the face and walking off. The victim got out of the car and walked towards her partner when Birks came up behind her and asked for the money she owed him as well as the necklace and bracelet she was wearing. The victim handed over the jewellery when Birks, pictured, began to douse her jacket and pants and ground where she was standing with methylated spirits from a spray bottle. Birks picked up a lighter and flicked it, setting the liquid on the ground on fire, which the victim stamped on to put the flames out. He kept flicking the lighter to ignite it in the victim’s direction when she began to run to her car. Birks yelled “no you f...... don’t” and put her in a choke hold from behind demanding she gave him the keys or he “would kill her”. She gave Birks the keys and called her daughter while running to the neighbour’s house seeking refuge. Birks’ lawyer James Lawson said that the people who lived in Birks’ house were “meth addicts”. He said the victim already owed Birks $3000, which is why he asked her for her jewellery to compensate for the money she owed. Mr Lawson said Birks was a full-time employee, in a stable relationship and was not a drug user anymore. He said his client accepted full responsibility. Magistrate Lynette Dias said Birks “ disempowered” the victim. She noted Birks’ effort to “clean himself up” and said he had prospects for “rehabilitation”. Birks was sentenced to six months and one day imprisonment, which Magistrate Dias conditionally suspended for eight months. She also imposed a fine of $2000 and court costs. The Telegraph previously reported on the horrific case of Rockingham man Robert Neil Penny who was jailed for four years for setting his partner on fire in a 2019 attack described by a judge as “senseless”.