Winchester man jailed for three arson attacks
A man has been jailed for six years after admitting setting a string of fires on New Year's Day.
Sean Clements, 47, of Jewry Street, Winchester, started fires at a restaurant, clothes shop and Winchester Cathedral's historic deanery.
He admitted three counts of arson and one count of assault when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court in March.
About 120 people were led to safety from the cathedral's open-air ice rink when the deanery doors caught fire.
No-one was injured but donated antique books, which were being sold to raise funds for cathedral choristers, were destroyed.
Another blaze seriously damaged the Phase Eight clothes shop in Parchment Street and a fire started at a restaurant failed to take hold after the chef managed to put it out.