Builder who 'panicked', torched Dane Swan-owned hotel jailed
A builder who set fire to a pub owned by former Collingwood footballer Dane Swan has been jailed.
Andrew McMahon pleaded guilty to arson earlier this month, after he set fire to South Melbourne's Albion hotel because he fell behind in renovation work and "panicked".
The 48-year-old had been hired to complete works at the hotel but set it alight before the official opening, causing more than $5 million damage.
"I am sorry, I just thought this would buy me some time," McMahon told police at the time.
"I was just in a panic."
McMahon told police he used a scissor lift to sneak into the pub through the beer garden during the arson attack in October 2015.
He later called 000 to report the fire, claiming he was assaulted by two masked males as he investigated what he thought was a burglary.
The father-of-two will now spend at least two and a half years in jail.
