A dangerous serial arsonist has been given a nine-year sentence after he set light to a house and an industrial building a few miles apart on different dates.
Alex Reynolds, 27, was jailed for six years and three months by Judge Martin Huseyin at Lewes Crown Court for starting the fires.
He was deemed “dangerous” and ordered to serve at least two thirds of the prison term – four years and two months – before being eligible to be considered for parole.
Judge Huseyin told him that he would also have to serve an extra three years on licence after the prison term of six years and three months had expired.
Reynolds set fire to a maisonette belonging to Southern Housing in St Mark’s Close, Bexhill, shortly before 10pm on Monday 13 November last year.
Six fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and a control unit were sent to deal with the blaze which damaged the first-floor maisonette and the roof of the building.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Bexhill, The Ridge, in Hastings, Bohemia Road, in Hastings, Eastbourne, Pevensey and Burwash.
Sussex Police said: “This caused significant damage to the property. Reynolds was arrested and released under investigation.
“On Tuesday 19 March, officers received a call that a property in Theaklen Drive, St Leonards, was on fire.
“It was deemed suspicious and Reynolds was located near the property and was arrested.”
The fire service was called out to the empty industrial building shortly after 8pm and sent four fire engines from Bohemia Road, in Hastings, Bexhill and Broad Oak.
Firefighters managed to put out the blaze within the hour although they spent time cutting away, damping down and using a thermal imaging camera to check for any hotspots.
Sussex Police said: “After an investigation which proved Reynolds was at the address in Bexhill at the time of the arson, he was charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
“He pleaded guilty on Friday 17 May at Lewes Crown Court.
“DNA was found at the property in St Leonards and he was then charged with arson.
“He pleaded guilty on Wednesday 17 July at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.”
Last Friday (13 September) Judge Huseyin said that an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public from the risk of serious harm.
Detective Sergeant Chris Milner said: “This is a really significant sentence and is truly justified in the circumstances.
“Reynolds is a serial arsonist who was escalating his offending to the point that he was risking the lives of others and causing significant damage. I am glad we can bring justice to the victims.
“He is now behind bars for a long time and this shows Sussex Police’s commitment to tackling offenders.
“I would like to thank all those who were involved in the investigation from those who initially attended, the officers who were on a protracted scene guard, the crime scene investigators and all those who work behind the scenes to help investigate these offences and build the files for court.”
