Successful Sheffield businessman 'tried to set fire to neighbours' flat twice and hurled concrete slab through window' in revenge attack

A successful Sheffield businessman tried to set fire to his neighbours' flat twice and hurled a concrete slab through their window as revenge for burgling his flat, a court has heard.
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Martin WIlson poured petrol on to the doorstep of the property on Challoner Green, Westfield, and lit it with a rag, at 1.45am, on April 15, said prosecutor Michael Greenhalgh.

The female occupant filled a bread bin with water and used it to extinguish the flames.

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Her boyfriend spotted Wilson wearing bright yellow shorts nearby and confronted him.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.
Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.

Police found a petrol can in his utility room, and Wilson told officers: "I know about it but it wasn't me."

Three days earlier, just before 5am, a concrete slab was used to smash through a glass panel in the front door.

At 7am, a rag smelling of petrol was lit on the doorstep, which the occupant's boyfriend was able to kick and stamp out.

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Wilson was seen nearby wearing yellow shorts and carrying a jerry can.

The court heard Wilson was of good character until a conviction for drink driving in 2019, and received a community order, on April 7, this year for making threats.

Edward Moss, mitigating, said: "This clearly passes the custody threshold, of that there is no doubt.

"There is genuine remorse. He was a hardworking and diligent family man until his world fell apart when his marriage broke down and he turned to drink.

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"He was a successful businessman who had to resort to living in a flat on Challoner Green, which was burgled. He felt the offenders lived nearby.

"He is now alcohol-free. He has shown his ability to rehabilitate. He has a trusted job as a painter within the prison."

Mr Moss said Wilson planned to sell the flat, and move to Blackpool and start again.

Wilson, 44, of Challoner Green, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and two counts of reckless arson, on September 15.

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Judge Michael Slater sentenced him to 24 months, suspended for two years, with 35 rehabilitation days and a six-month alcohol treatment programme. He imposed a five-year restraining order.

"Yours is a spectacular fall from grace, he told Wilson. "You believed, rightly or wrongly, the complainant was linked to a burglary at your flat."

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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