AN arsonist who torched a garage and burned a car has been jailed for more than five years.

Mohammed Azizi has also been served with a restraining order which prevents him from returning to the scenes of his crimes.

A jury found him guilty of burning down Spanners Garage in Roydon which saw nine vehicles and two garages destroyed.

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Azizi had denied any involvement but detectives found DNA evidence on a piece of fabric undamaged by the fire, linking him to the arson.

Six weeks after the initial fire, Azizi set fire to one of his neighbour’s cars in Bradley Road, Waltham Abbey.

Residents tried to extinguish the fire while calling emergency services but the Volkswagen Polo was destroyed.

CCTV showed Azizi, 30, had set the car on fire.

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A jury convicted him of arson and arson with recklessness as to whether life would be endangered, following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Azizi, of Bradley Road, Waltham Abbey, was sentenced today to five years and six months imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the owner of Spanners Garage said: “I spent my whole life building my business up for this one crime to completely destroy it - 20 years burnt down in one night.

“It was just completely demoralising and devastating. Thankfully I am quite a strong person, as I feel that would’ve ruined a lot of people.

“It took over a year to get the business re-built, which is a year without income and a year losing clients to other businesses.

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“In total the re-build cost me £250,000. Of this, my insurance covered just over half of it, which meant I had to pay over £100,000 from my savings, my pension.

“I previously had cancer, however I can say this crime has caused me just as much stress as battling that.

“I feel like I have to look over my shoulder now, especially as I don’t know why he’s actually done this. I’ve never done anything to him so I just don’t understand it.”

Detective Inspector Kate Murray, of Loughton CID, said: “Azizi consistently denied his involvement in both arsons, but the evidence proved otherwise.

“We will never know why he committed these crimes, which have caused a huge emotional and financial impact for his victims and fear among the local community.

“He clearly planned what he was going to do and spared no thought for the innocent people he targeted.

“I hope the community will now feel safer that he is behind bars.”