The former boss of an Indian restaurant was jailed for more than seven years after he wore a blonde wig disguise to set fire to his old eatery in a revenge attack.
CCTV footage shows Fakhrul Islam, 37, sporting golden locks as he walked towards his old restaurant, Seventy One Indian in Poulton, Lancashire.
Moments later, he torched his old restaurant.
Islam, who once worked at Seventy One Indian, carried out the attack in revenge against the new owners in December 2024.
Images taken after the blaze show scorched walls and ceilings as well as damaged furniture.
Islam admitted to arson and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at Preston Crown Court.
The judge described the fire as a 'revenge attack motivated by ill-feeling towards the restaurant's new owners'.
The fire was only spotted after staff from nearby Cube nightclub heard fire alarms, saw flames and rushed to assist.
CCTV footage shows Islam sporting golden locks as he walked towards his old restaurant
Islam's choice of unlikely headwear failed to disguise. He donned the yellow headpiece for a 'revenge attack motivated by ill-feeling towards the restaurant's new owners'
Fakhrul Islam, 37, admitted arson and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at Preston Crown Court
Images taken after the blaze show scorched walls and ceilings as well as damaged furniture
The burnt-out interior of Seventy One Indian in Poulton, Lancs which only reopened this week
The restaurant was empty at the time but staff members from the business and a family living above the premises had to be helped to safety.
Islam was later identified following what police chiefs described as a 'painstaking investigation' tracking CCTV footage and vehicle movements.
Islam, of Hemingway, Blackpool, initially denied arson, claiming he had been driving around while working as a taxi driver.
But he later pleaded guilty after investigators presented the evidence associating him with the crime.
Detective Constable Alexa Taylor of Blackpool CID said: 'I welcome this sentence which reflects the gravity and reckless disregard for life that Islam showed that morning when he carried out this arson attack.
'I would also like to thank and acknowledge the heroic actions of the staff members from the Cube whose selfless and courageous intervention undoubtedly saved many lives during this incident.'
