Detectives have charged a man with arson and break-andenter offences after he was extradited from Victoria, where he was arrested this week.

About 3.45am on Sunday 18 March 2012, a fire destroyed the Castlereagh block of the Oxley High School in Tamworth, causing $12 million dollars in damage.

Investigators from Oxley Local Area Command and State Crime Command’s Arson Unit commenced investigations, and in March 2015 identified a 20-year-old man as a person of interest.

On Thursday 9 April 2015, investigators travelled to Malmsbury, Victoria, and interviewed this man.

Following further inquiries, investigators applied for an arrest warrant. On Tuesday 12 May 2015, the man was arrested in Melbourne and taken into custody.

At the man’s court appearance, NSW Police sought his extradition, which was subsequently granted.

The man was flown back to NSW and taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where he was charged in relation to the alleged arson and other matters. Specifically, the man was charged with:

– Destroy property by fire in company;

– Aggravated break and enter an commit serious indictable offence (larceny);

– Aggravated break and enter an commit serious indictable offence (arson);

– Recklessly cause grievous bodily harm in company;

– Affray;

– Damage property.

The man appeared before Central Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 13 May 2015), where he was remanded in custody to face Tamworth Local Court on 29 June 2015.