Man found guilty of mosque arson

A man has been convicted of deliberately setting fire to a mosque in West Sussex. Richard John Hall, 29, from Westbourne Avenue in Worthing, was found guilty of burglary and arson at Chichester Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard that Hall, who has learning difficulties, set fire to the Islamic Cultural Centre on Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, on 11 March 2005. He has been released on bail to be sentenced next month.

The fire was discovered by two members of the Muslim community on their way to prayers at the mosque.

Hall was linked to the crime after his DNA was found at the scene.

BBC News, 18 May 2007

Update:  See “Man who set fire to mosque jailed for three years”, The Argus, 11 June 2007