An arsonist has been jailed after setting fire to an Ipswich garage in a revenge attack because he thought the owner had reported him for an alleged fraud.
Paul Devereux used an accelerant to start the blaze at the garage which was attached to two houses in Ashcroft Road in Ipswich in September last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard on Friday, February 10.
The fire completely destroyed the garage but damage to the two adjoining houses was avoided thanks to neighbours who spotted the fire at an early stage and alerted the fire brigade, said prosecutor Simon Connolly.
He said that after starting the fire, Devereux had driven away in his car and was later arrested in the vehicle, which he was living in at the time of the attack.
Devereux, 58, of no fixed address, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
He was jailed for four years and six months.
Judge Emma Peters said Devereux had a long association with the victim’s house as he had been a friend of the victim’s father and had cared for his mother.
After the victim, who was described as vulnerable, inherited the property, Devereux had a key to the garage and kept some of his belongings in it.
Judge Peters said Devereux had a history of harassing people he held grudges against and the arson had been a revenge attack after the victim reported him to the police for an alleged fraud.
In addition to jailing Devereux, she made a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim and from going within 100m of his home for ten years.
The court heard that Devereux, who appeared at his sentencing hearing via a prison video link, had 33 previous convictions.
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