The court heard in June 2019, Liverpool man John Haase was released on license from prison after serving half of a 22-year sentence for perverting the course of justice.

On 9 March 2020, Haase attended a property in the Whirlow area of Sheffield and demanded £280,000 from the residents. When he didn’t get the answer he wanted and the owners wouldn’t hand over the cash, he returned to the property on 14 March and set fire to a Range Rover which was parked on the drive.

The fire spread to the integral garage, and then to the house, causing extensive damage. Fortunately, the property was empty at the time and no one was injured.

Following the incident, an investigation was immediately launched by Sheffield CID, which led to them nominating Haase as a person of interest to the investigation following the previous threats made to the owners.

Detectives were able to establish that Haase had made return journeys from Liverpool to Sheffield on the dates the person who committed the arson had made visits to the Whirlow property.

On 20 April 2020, Haase was arrested at his home address in Liverpool. The 74-year old was later charged with committing arson with intent and remanded in custody.

On 14 November 2023, following a seven-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Haase, of Aigburth Road in Liverpool, was found guilty of committing arson with intent.

He has today (18 January 2024) been handed a nine-year sentence, as well as being required to serve the rest of his 22-year perverting the course of justice sentence. These sentences will run concurrently.

John Hayes, 48, of Foscote Road in Liverpool, and Connor Lewis Jones, 25, of Melbury Road in Liverpool, have also been charged with committing arson with intent in connection with the incident. Both pleaded not guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing and are due to stand trial at Sheffield Crown Court on 8 July 2024.