A man who tried to dominate Melbourne’s jumping castle game faces serious jail time. 

The self-proclaimed king of Melbourne's jumping castle industry has been sentenced to up to 11 years in prison for orchestrating a series of destructive arson attacks on his competitors. 

Jason Balcombe, the owner of Awesome Party Hire, commissioned attacks on rival businesses in a desperate attempt to eliminate his competition. 

However, his cunning plan unravelled when he made a critical mistake: he ordered the torching of his own shed. This suspicious act led to his eventual arrest.

According to court testimony, Balcombe enlisted the help of a man named Craig Anderson to set fire to his Kangaroo Flat factory. 

Worried that law enforcement would become suspicious if his business remained untouched by arsonists, Balcombe wanted to divert attention away from himself.
Sadly for him, Anderson's arrest three days after the fire exposed Balcombe as the mastermind behind not only his own blaze but also the attacks on rival establishments.

Appearing before the court via video link from prison, the 58-year-old Balcombe received a sentence of up to 11 years. 

Having already served two years and five months, he may be eligible for parole after seven years and 10 months. 

Judge Stewart Bayles expressed his condemnation of Balcombe's actions, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of his crimes, saying his offences caused substantial damage, inflicted suffering, and left emotional scars on the lives and livelihoods of others.

The court further learned that Balcombe's relentless pursuit of destroying his rivals went to extreme lengths. He instructed Anderson to revisit targeted businesses even when the initial fires caused only minor damage, clearly demonstrating his unwavering determination. 

One particular establishment endured three separate attacks.

Although some of the arson attempts were unsuccessful, A&A Jumping Castles fell victim to Balcombe's scheme, with Anderson throwing a molotov cocktail through a shattered window. 

The resulting inferno engulfed the factory and annihilated 110 jumping castles, causing an estimated $1.4 million in damages. 

Owners Michael and Aline Andrew were left devastated, losing everything they had worked so hard to build. Now forced to seek employment in casual childcare jobs, they were forced to shutter their business.

Initially charged with 11 counts of conspiracy to commit arson, Balcombe was released on bail in 2017. 

However, he failed to appear in court for a final directions hearing, and his lawyer, presenting a forged medical certificate, attempted to shield him from justice. 

A warrant was subsequently issued for Balcombe's arrest, leading to the discovery that he had been living in Perth, operating a fraudulent stamp operation under the alias Paul Johnson. After extradition back to Victoria, he eventually pleaded guilty to the charges against him.