James Balcombe, known as the king of bounce in Melbourne, was determined to reign supreme in the jumping castle game. His plan to bounce to the top had been successful, but he took his ambitions to scorching new heights.
With a burning desire for dominance, Balcombe resorted to hiring arsonists to set fire to his competing bouncy-castle businesses.
Thanks to this fiery strategy, his company Awesome Party Hire skyrocketed to the number one spot on Google!
Business boomed, and Balcombe's success allowed him to achieve a personal milestone – purchasing property for the first time.
However, his victory was marred by paranoia.
Worried that the police might notice his own factory still standing, he realized his business would have to go up in flames to avoid suspicion.
In a heated move, Balcombe enlisted the services of his arsonist-for-hire, Craig Anderson. Together, they ventured through Balcombe's Kangaroo Flat factory, pointing out his jumping castles.
Balcombe even offered to fill jerry cans with petrol...
On March 6, 2017, Anderson doused the shed's floor with petrol and ignited the inferno. As the flames engulfed the shed, Balcombe, his wife, and his son were sheltered in a nearby house.
While Balcombe hoped to profit from the insurance claim for the shed, Anderson's arrest three days later turned the tables.
Anderson snitched on Balcombe, revealing him as the mastermind behind the fires.
Balcombe had instructed Anderson, who was later sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison, along with two others, to carry out 11 arson attacks between 2016 and 2017.
"Burn them to the ground," he told them, offering $2,000 per mission.
Though some fires failed to ignite, the damage was devastating at A&A Jumping Castles.
Anderson tossed a Molotov cocktail through a broken window, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed the factory, obliterating 110 bouncy castles.
The fire caused a staggering $1.4 million in damages, leaving owners Michael and Aline Andrew with nothing. They were forced to shut down their business and now work casual jobs in childcare.
Balcombe faced charges for 11 counts of conspiracy to commit arson and was released on bail in 2017. However, he vanished before a final court hearing, leaving his lawyer to submit a fake medical certificate.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Balcombe was eventually discovered in Perth, masquerading as Paul Johnson and running a fraudulent stamp operation.
After extradition to Victoria for his arson-related crimes, Balcombe pleaded guilty.
In a video appearance from prison, the 58-year-old was sentenced to up to 11 years by Judge Stewart Bayles in the County Court.
Judge Bayles highlighted the far-reaching impact of Balcombe's actions, emphasizing the significant loss, suffering, and emotional trauma inflicted upon others. While Balcombe's primary goal was to advance his own business, the consequences extended well beyond that.
The judge remarked on Balcombe's persistent offenses, noting that he remained unwavering in his determination to destroy his rivals.
Even when the initial fires caused only minor damage, Balcombe instructed Anderson to return to targeted businesses multiple times, with one business falling victim to his attacks three times!
Judge Bayles pointed out that Balcombe had the opportunity to reconsider after witnessing the property damage but chose not to do so.
Having already served two years and five months, Balcombe will be eligible for parole after seven years and ten months – a stark reminder that ambitions fueled by fire can leave one in a deflated state.
