Arsonist with 'fixated discontent' jailed over $1.5m hotel fire

Oxford Hotel arsonist Joseph Chehade jailed over $1.5 million North Adelaide blaze Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 1:50pm In short: An arsonist whose offending includes causing $1.5 million worth of damage to a North Adelaide hotel has been jailed for five years. A District Court judge described Joseph Chehade's offending as "a consistent campaign of terror". What's next? Chehade will be eligible for release on parole in April 2027. A judge has jailed a man who "embarked on a consistent campaign of terror" against his former business partner, including torching the complex containing the Oxford Hotel in North Adelaide. Joseph Chehade, 39, was jailed on Thursday after pleading guilty to criminal trespass, aggravated assault and arson. In sentencing on Thursday, District Court judge Anthony Allen said Chehade's offending began after he and his former business partner Walter Ventura severed ties on July 13, 2023. "I agree with the submission advanced by your counsel that your behaviour at the time of this offending came about as a consequence of you having completely lost control of your life," he said. "You embarked on a consistent campaign of terror against your victim, having lost all self-control." Judge Allen said Chehade's "campaign" began when he smashed windows at Mr Ventura's home before assaulting him in front of his family. "You pushed the victim part way down the stairs and verbally abused him. You then picked up a broomstick and struck the victim on multiple occasions, approximately 10 times, with the broom handle, striking him to the head and body," he said. "The victim's terrified wife called the police, as did his traumatised children. "It is apparent his children thought you were going to kill their father. "The fact that you would commit this offence in the vicinity of two young children is extremely concerning." Judge Allen said Chehade was subsequently arrested by police and released on bail. He said the man came to the attention of police again on July 27, 2024, after he started an "extremely dangerous" fire at a business complex containing the Oxford Hotel at 107 O'Connell Street in North Adelaide. "Through your counsel you say you have no memory of lighting the fire and deny this being an act of retribution against your business partner," Judge Allen said. "The presence of accelerant in two distinct locations within the premises speaks strongly against this being some sort of accidental fire that has simply got out of hand. "Whilst it might be that you did not intend to cause the amount of damage that occurred, that being in the vicinity of about $1.5 million, I am satisfied that you deliberately lit the fire as a consequence of your continuing fixated discontent towards the victim." Judge Allen said that victim impact statements provided to the court make it "apparent" that Chehade's "behaviour has had a terrible, long-lasting impact". Chehade was jailed for five years with a non-parole period of two years and nine months. The sentence was backdated to when Chehade was taken into custody on July 27, 2024, making him eligible for release on parole in April next year.