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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Firebomber sentenced to 18 years | Firebomber sentenced to 18 years |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A car dealer convicted of ordering firebomb attacks on the homes of two Essex Police officers has been jailed for 18 years. | A car dealer convicted of ordering firebomb attacks on the homes of two Essex Police officers has been jailed for 18 years. |
| Wayne Taylor, 42, paid two men to throw milk bottles filled with petrol because he blamed the detectives for "ruining Christmas" after a raid at his home. | Wayne Taylor, 42, paid two men to throw milk bottles filled with petrol because he blamed the detectives for "ruining Christmas" after a raid at his home. |
| A jury found him guilty of two counts of arson with intent to endanger life. | A jury found him guilty of two counts of arson with intent to endanger life. |
| Taylor, of Clacton, was cleared of attempted murder and a third unrelated arson last month following a trial. | Taylor, of Clacton, was cleared of attempted murder and a third unrelated arson last month following a trial. |
| Risked nine lives | Risked nine lives |
| He claimed he was angered that the officers had disturbed presents under the tree while executing a search warrant on 21 December 2005. | He claimed he was angered that the officers had disturbed presents under the tree while executing a search warrant on 21 December 2005. |
| Judge Martin Stephens said severe punishment was necessary to mark the "enormity" of the January 2006 offences which "strike at the heart of our society". | Judge Martin Stephens said severe punishment was necessary to mark the "enormity" of the January 2006 offences which "strike at the heart of our society". |
| He said nine people, including a two-day-old baby, had their lives put at risk, and the impact on them had been great. | He said nine people, including a two-day-old baby, had their lives put at risk, and the impact on them had been great. |
| There was no other way out. I had real concerns for my family's safety Det Insp Michael Ornellas | There was no other way out. I had real concerns for my family's safety Det Insp Michael Ornellas |
| The judge added: "This was cold-blooded, premeditated, aimed at putting wholly innocent lives in danger. | The judge added: "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." | "It was only the alertness of the officers that prevented the fires taking hold." |
| Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said it was pure chance that the sleeping families of the officers were not killed during the incidents in Clacton. | Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said it was pure chance that the sleeping families of the officers were not killed during the incidents in Clacton. |
| "The two attacks had all the hallmarks of having been co-ordinated acts of spiteful and vindictive revenge," he said. | "The two attacks had all the hallmarks of having been co-ordinated acts of spiteful and vindictive revenge," he said. |
| The court heard that none of the bombs caused a fire inside the homes. In one case, the house was protected by double-glazing, and in the other, the flames were doused. | The court heard that none of the bombs caused a fire inside the homes. In one case, the house was protected by double-glazing, and in the other, the flames were doused. |
| Det Sgt Martin Brough and his wife Amanda were feeding their newborn baby when two petrol bombs and concrete slabs were thrown at the front of their home. | Det Sgt Martin Brough and his wife Amanda were feeding their newborn baby 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." | Det Sgt Brough told the court: "I was horrified that night, absolutely terrified... that someone should firebomb my home... I was so frightened." |
| Det Insp Michael Ornellas said: "I was woken by an enormous crashing sound. I could see the bottom of the stairs were alight. | Det Insp Michael Ornellas said: "I was woken by an enormous crashing sound. I could see the bottom of the stairs were alight. |
| Det Insp Michael Ornellas found the bottom of the stairs alight | |
| "There was no other way out. I had real concerns for my family's safety." | "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. | Mr Ornellas managed to put the blaze out with the help of his sons and the family escaped to safety. |
| Mr Dennis said the raid on Taylor's home had involved opening presents under a tree and taking away credit cards. | Mr Dennis said the raid on Taylor's home had involved opening presents under a tree and taking away credit cards. |
| Two men were later jailed for the attacks but Taylor was arrested last year after one of them, Jason Eagles, made a statement to police. | Two men were later jailed for the attacks but Taylor was arrested last year after one of them, Jason Eagles, made a statement to police. |
| Eagles, now 25, was given an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of six-and-a-half years for the two arson attacks. | Eagles, now 25, was given an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of six-and-a-half years for the two arson attacks. |
| Outside court, Chief Supt Keith Garnish, of Essex Police, said Wayne Taylor was motivated by a "wicked and vindictive sense of retribution". | Outside court, Chief Supt Keith Garnish, of Essex Police, said Wayne Taylor was motivated by a "wicked and vindictive sense of retribution". |
| "The attacks were indicative of his belief that he was beyond the rule of law and should be free to go about his criminal business at will," he added. | "The attacks were indicative of his belief that he was beyond the rule of law and should be free to go about his criminal business at will," he added. |