Convicted arsonist Arnett Dill was yesterday sentenced to seven years in jail after a jury found him guilty of a Christmas crime spree that netted him more than $80,000 worth of property.

Dill, 43, a roofer from Leacraft Hill Road, Southampton, was found guilty of arson, five counts of burglary and two counts of causing wilful damage by a jury on Thursday after a trial that lasted nearly three weeks.

After breaking into one store, Audio Visual Electronics in Somerset, he set fire to the premises in a bid to destroy evidence of the crime, causing $100,000 worth of damage. An elderly couple living in an adjoining apartment had to be evacuated by firefighters.

Despite a wealth of evidence collected by the Police, Dill maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Before his sentence was passed yesterday he said: "I have listened to the jury's result, which I'm baffled with.

"However, I must add that, from the beginning of this trial, since my arrest ten months ago, I said I was innocent and I would like to add that I was just an innocent bystander throughout this case.

"In reference to my mental and physical health I don't have a drug problem or a mental problem.

"What I have heard in this case I cannot change.'' A huge quantity of stolen goods, including television sets, a photocopying machine, stereos and thousands of dollars worth of jewellery taken from the Somerset branch of Trimingham's, were discovered at Dill's office on Front Street, his car and his father's house.

And, under cross-examination, it was discovered that he lied in statements made to police about where the goods came from.

Sentencing Dill to seven years imprisonment for arson, along with concurrent terms of six years for the five break-ins and two years each for two counts of causing wilful damage, Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller said: "There have been no signs of remorse and, because you set fire to a premises I can think of nothing more aggravating. This type of offence requires a severe penalty.'' Dill's request to be bailed pending an appeal so that he could look after his pet rabbits was dismissed.