A serial arsonist, identified as Omar Omar, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after causing extensive damage totalling millions of pounds to a car dealership in Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, following a vendetta against the business. The destructive series of arsons, which unfolded between January and December 2022, wreaked havoc on both buildings and vehicles.

Omar Omar, a 40-year-old car wash owner, deliberately set fires at the Lowdham Road-based car dealership on four separate occasions, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. His arson spree culminated in a devastating attack on Christmas Day in 2022 when two portacabins were set ablaze. Minutes later, a separate premises—a service station on the A46 in Cropwell Bishop—was also destroyed by fire. Omar was responsible for igniting both fires, driven by a vengeful motive related to ongoing disputes he had with the individuals associated with both businesses.

Notably, Omar’s own business operated at the same site as the car dealership he targeted on Christmas Day, making his actions all the more audacious. The series of arsons began with an unsuccessful attempt on January 8, 2022, when he tried to set fire to the building. Undeterred, he made another attempt on January 15, with this fire completely destroying a building next to the car forecourt and damaging several vehicles up for sale.

In a separate attack on August 7, a fire was set that engulfed three cars on the dealership’s site, along with an office building. The combined financial toll of these arsons, when considering repair costs and months of lost earnings, amounted to an estimated £4.5 million.

Omar’s link to the attacks was established through forensic work conducted as part of a Nottinghamshire Police-led investigation, which uncovered his DNA on a hammer left at one of the fire scenes. Additionally, a charred jacket resembling the one worn by the perpetrator of the Christmas Day fires, as seen in CCTV footage, was discovered concealed behind a freezer at Omar’s residence.

Confronted with mounting evidence, Omar, who had initially denied any wrongdoing, changed his plea in court on August 10, 2023, admitting to four counts of arson and one count of attempted arson.

At his sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on September 22, Omar, residing at Charlbury Court, Bramcote, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Detective Constable Chloe Baugh of Nottinghamshire Police commented on the case, stating, “Omar’s actions were reckless in the extreme and motivated by revenge and his intention to try and destroy the livelihoods of other business owners he was having issues with.” She emphasised the immense financial and emotional toll imposed on Omar’s victims, expressing relief that he was given a substantial sentence for his actions.’