The former boss of a restaurant in Poulton-le-Fylde who set fire to it in a revenge attack against its new owners has been jailed.
Fakhrul Islam torched the Seventy One Indian in Breck Road Poulton in the early hours of December 8th, 2024, causing extensive damage to the business and causing it to close its doors until this week.
While the restaurant was closed and empty at the time staff members from the restaurant and another family who lived above had to be helped by quick-thinking staff from the nearby Cube nightclub who heard the alarms go off and spotted the flames and raced to the rescue.
Islam, who wore a blond wig to try and disguise himself, was tracked down following a painstaking investigation which tracked his movements on the night through CCTV and vehicle movements.
Despite him initially denying the offence claiming he was driving around as part of his work as a taxi driver Islam pleaded guilty to arson in the face of the evidence compiled by the investigation team.
The 37-year-old, of Hemingway, Blackpool was sentenced at Preston Crown Court earlier this week to seven years and six months in prison.
During sentencing, the Judge described the incident as a revenge attack motivated from ill-feeling between Islam and the restaurant’s new owners.
Det Con Alexa Taylor, of Blackpool CID, said: “I welcome this sentence which reflects the gravity and reckless disregard for life that Islam showed that morning when he carried out this arson attack.
“I would also like to thank and acknowledge the heroic actions of the staff members from the Cube whose selfless and courageous intervention undoubtedly saved many lives during this incident.”
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