Former publican sentenced to over four years for burning down Snowy Monaro pub

A former publican has been sentenced to more than four years behind bars after deliberately burning down a Snowy Monaro pub in order to pocket the insurance payout.

David Culican, 42, was found guilty of intentionally burning down the historical Globe Hotel in Bombala in June 2022.

In Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday, Judge David Scully said Culican destroyed the 1857 building because "the business was in financial stress".

Judge Scully said the pub's insurance policy covered contents up to $480,000 and up to $640,000 in loss of trade, but it was "not clear what the offender would have reaped".

The court heard that in the day before lighting the fire Culican made plans to rent a truck to transport "items of value" from the pub.

The court heard Culican was "clumsy" in his offending which involved him using a blowtorch to light the fire around 4am on June 25, 2022.

CCTV footage from that night which showed Culican exiting the building while carrying a blowtorch and wearing a balaclava was played for the court during the trial.

"The balaclava was a clumsy attempt to hide his appearance," Judge Scully said.

Culican was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months behind bars, with a non-parole period of 2 years and 9 months.

Culican denied lighting the fire, but a jury found him guilty after a week-long trial and seven-hours of deliberations in the Queanbeyan District Court in May.

Judge Scully said Culican, who watched the sentencing via audio visual link from custody at Junee Correctional Centre, "does not accept responsibility for this offending behaviour" and there was "no evidence of remorse".

The pub was destroyed by the blaze but there was no-one staying there at the time and no-one was injured.

However, Judge Scully noted that both a civilian who was concerned about potential occupants in the building, and the firefighters who responded to the blaze, "put themselves at risk".

A conviction against Culican on a charge of possessing ammunition without authority was also recorded, but no sentence was imposed.

Culican will be eligible for parole in February 2029.