Drug dealer jailed for firebombing detectives’ homes

Wayne Taylor was jailed for 18 years at the Old Bailey today for ordering the attacks following a police raid that he said had "ruined my Christmas".

Taylor, 42, of Clacton-on-Sea, was found guilty last month of two offences of arson with intent to endanger life.

He paid henchmen to throw milk bottles filled with petrol at the houses in Clacton because he was upset officers had opened presents under the tree at his home before Christmas 2005.

The court heard it was only by chance that the two officers and their families were not killed in the attacks on 28 January 2006.

Sergeant 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. He told the court: "I was horrified that night, absolutely terrified."

Detective Inspector Michael Ornellas described how his family escaped to safety after he and his sons managed to put out the blaze.

"I was woken by an enormous crashing sound. I could see the bottom of the stairs were alight," he said.

"There was no other way out. I had real concerns for my family's safety."

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Stephens said nine people, including a two-day-old baby, had their lives put at risk: "This was cold-blooded, premeditated.

It was only the alertness of the officers that prevented the fires taking hold."

During the trial Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting,
had called the firebombings "co-ordinated acts of spiteful and vindictive revenge".

Two men had already been jailed for the attacks but Taylor, who worked as a car dealer, 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 six-and-a-half year term for the two arson attacks.