Bouncy castle business owner 'hired driver to firebomb rivals' with Molotov cocktails in turf war'

Police claim five of James Balcombe's rivals were hit with a combined total of ten fires

The attack apparently targeted bouncy castle (iStock)

An owner of bouncy castle business allegedly used firebombs to target his rivals, a court has been told.

James Balcombe, 52, who ran Awesome Party Hire, apparently paid an employee to torch any competitors across Melbourne, Australia.

Police claim five of his rivals were hit with a combined total of ten fires, most of which were started by Molotov cocktails.

Police said Balcombe paid his drivers $2,000 for each target, according to The Age.

The driver, Peter Smith, 36, recruited his friends Craig Anderson, 30, and Travis Ransom, 33 to help with the attacks.

The fires hit factories and outlets in Hallam, Tullamarine, Keysborough, Werribee, and Warragul and caused damage that will cost $1m to repair.

One attack in particular at A&A Jumping Castles destroyed a number of bouncy castles.

After the fire, Anderson told police Balcombe was smiling at the result and said it was the "best job he had done so far".

"James said he wasn't happy with cars being damaged. He needed jumping castles to get destroyed," Anderson said in a statement.

Police have also alleged Balcombe ordered his own property be torched in a bid to avoid suspicion.

Anderson and Smith appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court and to plead guilty to ten and two charges of arson respectively.

Balcombe and Ransom are set to face ten and four charges of arson respectively.