A man has been jailed for life for a terror campaign against people he suspected of trying to section him under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Biochemist Richard Jan firebombed the car of social worker Shauna Bailey and the home of Ealing councillor Liz Brookes during a seven-year campaign, Middlesex Crown Court heard. Bailey now lives at a secret location and has not worked since the attack.

Jan's other tactics included threatening letters and phone calls, assault, vandalism and using private detectives to obtain personal information about his victims, the court was told.

He was found guilty of two counts of arson with intent to endanger life and a charge of causing public nuisance (news, page 11, 17 June).