A man who set fire to two cars outside a family home before leading police on a pursuit at speeds of up to 100mph has been jailed.
Krzysztof Orzechowski, 32, of no fixed abode, set fire to the vehicles on Stoke Road, Slough, shortly before 04:00 BST on 9 March.
He had poured fuel from a jerry can over the cars after buying it from a nearby petrol station.
Orzechowski then drove away as the fire spread to the front of the house, forcing the occupants, including children, to flee.
The blaze caused substantial damage to the vehicles and property, but no-one was injured.
The victim, a man in his 20s, said the incident had affected his family’s sense of safety.
“This incident did not just damage property: it damaged our sense of safety; it damaged our mental health; it changed how we live and how we feel in our own home,” he said in a statement.
“We are frightened, unsettled and constantly on edge.”
Detective Constable Chloe Winchcombe, of Berkshire East CID, said Orzechowski was a “dangerous offender” who posed a risk to the public.
“It is incredibly fortunate that no one was hurt after Orzechowski set fire to two cars in the middle of the night and recklessly drove at high speeds in a futile attempt to evade arrest,” she said.
Dangerous pursuit
Officers identified Orzechowski during an investigation and, six days after the arson, attempted to stop a vehicle linked to him.
Orzechowski was driving and failed to stop, instead driving dangerously while officers pursued him.
He reached speeds of up to 100mph and overtook other vehicles recklessly before eventually crashing after taking a corner too quickly.
He was unhurt and was arrested by officers.
Orzechowski was charged two days later and remanded in custody.
He pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court on 13 April to arson with intent to endanger life and dangerous driving.
He also admitted two counts of possessing Class A and Class B controlled drugs – cocaine and cannabis/cannabis resin.
At Reading Crown Court on 19 August, he was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison, followed by an extended three-year period.
He was also disqualified from driving for one year after his release and ordered to pay a £228 surcharge.
DC Winchcombe said Thames Valley Police would continue to work to bring offenders to justice and support victims.
“Our investigation into the arson is ongoing, with a 32-year-old man from Slough on police bail,” Thames Valley Police said.
