An off-licence worker has been jailed for three years for a £72,000 arson attack to cover his tracks after stealing cash from the shop safe.

Colin Hackett, 48, maintained his innocence throughout a trial at Basildon Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury of arson and stealing money from the safe in January last year.

However, Hackett, of Whitmore Court, Basildon, was cleared on a charge of reckless arson which was likely to endanger lives.

The court heard Hackett finished work for the evening at Victoria Wine, Whitmore Way, Basildon, rifled the safe, took £2,200 and left doors unlocked.

He returned to the shop the next morning and torched the property, causing extensive damage. Families living above the off-licence escaped injury. The worst they could have suffered was smoke damage, the court was told.

Defence barrister, Sarah Campbell, said despite the jury's verdict Hackett insisted he was innocent of the charges.

She added the father-of-two was a man of previous good character who posed no risk to the public.

However, Judge Peter Dedman said: "This was a particularly nasty offence which was not committed on the spur of the moment."

Published Monday July 19, 2004

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