Four years for man who set fires at places of worship

A man responsible for fires at two places of worship in Edinburgh has been jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh today.

Paul Johnson was sentenced to four years in prison following the incidents at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Sheriff Brae and the Leith Methodist Church in Nicolson Square on Tuesday 28th August.

Police treated both incidents as hate crimes and following local inquiries, 49-year-old Johnson was identified and subsequently charged.

He was convicted in October.

Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Grant Johnston from Gayfield CID said: “Paul Johnson showed absolutely no concern for the safety or wellbeing of those in or around either place of worship when he started these fires.

“As a result of a swift police investigation, Johnson was quickly traced and arrested in connection with the fire and has now been given a custodial sentence.

“We treat all hate crime incidents with the utmost seriousness and whenever such offences occur, we will conduct a thorough inquiry to bring those responsible to justice.”