AN ARSONIST who set fire to Heaven’s Kitchen restaurant in Farnham has been sentenced to two years and ten months in jail.

During the sentencing hearing at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday (May 30), the court heard that chef Giovanni Dell-Anno set fire to cushions at the Mediterranean steak house in East Street - where he worked - before sending nude photographs to his colleagues.

It is not clear whether the indecent images were of himself.

The 37 year-old, of no fixed abode, started the fire over a pay dispute and stole an antique clock.

He felt he was owed money by the restaurant and so intended to sell the clock.

Police were called at 3am on Monday, March 11, following reports of the fire which had spread to the flats above. No injuries were reported.

Heaven’s Kitchen remained closed for almost six weeks following the incident, reopening on April 21.

Dell-Anno was sentenced to two years and four months in jail for charges of arson and burglary, as well as six months imprisonment for each of the four charges of malicious communications, to run concurrently.

A total custodial sentence of two years and ten months was ordered.

Dell-Anno pleaded guilty to all charges and a charge of common assault will stay on file.

*More to follow in next week’s Herald.