One house alone sustained more than £100,000 worth of damage, and another had £6,000 worth. A car was also damaged.

On 18 April 2003 Andrew Smith, aged 28, of Halifax Close, Bricket Wood, received a three-year sentence for arson at a house in Hancross Close, off Broad Acre, after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. He also received a two-year sentence for arson at an address in Oakwood Road on 01 March 2003. A third count of arson at the same address resulted in £8,000 worth of damage to a Ford Mondeo; for this he received an 18-month jail sentence. The three sentences are to run concurrently.

“This is an excellent result,” said Sergeant Helen Savage from the London Colney Community Team. “PC Paul Coxall, using his local knowledge, worked very hard in apprehending and arresting this man.”

She said: “Miraculously no-one was injured or killed however Smith caused a huge amount of damage and a significant amount of disruption to the owners of these houses and car. I hope this sends out a clear message to arsonists that they will be dealt with robustly by police and the courts.”