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Fire-bomber jailed
A car dealer's been jailed for 18 years at the Old Bailey for ordering fire bomb attacks on the homes of two Essex detectives.
Wayne Taylor paid cronies to throw milk bottles filled with petrol at the houses in revenge for a drugs raid on his home just before Christmas. He later said they had ruined his Christmas and was angered that they had disturbed
presents under the tree during the January 2006 swoop.
Taylor, 42, was found guilty last month of two offences of arson with intent to endanger life but cleared of attempted murder and a third unrelated arson.
Judge Martin Stephens jailed him for 18 years on each offence, the sentences to be served concurrently.
He said: "It is necessary for severe punishment to mark the enormity of these offences which strike at the heart of our society, where policemen's homes are targeted and they and their families are put at risk of death because of one
man's wish to punish them"
"This was cold-blooded, premeditated, aimed at putting wholly innocent lives in danger. It was only the alertness of the officers that prevented the fires taking hold.''
Sergeant Martin Brough and his wife Amanda were feeding their two-day-old baby son when two petrol bombs and concrete slabs were thrown at the front of their home.
Det Sgt Brough told the court: "I was horrified that night, absolutely terrified... that someone should firebomb my home... I was so frightened.''
Detective Inspector Michael Ornellas said: "I was woken by an enormous crashing sound. I could see the bottom of the stairs were alight. There was no other way out. I had real concerns for my family's safety.''
Mr Ornellas managed to put the blaze out with the help of his sons and the family escaped to safety.
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