Three jailed for racist bombing

The flats at Watton house several Portuguese families

Three men have been jailed for five years each for a racially-motivated nail bomb attack on a block of flats housing Portuguese and Polish workers.

The attack started a fire in the landing of the Old Brewery in Watton, near Thetford, Norfolk, in August 2005.

At Norwich Crown Court Paul Lusher, Sinclair Maynard and Daniel Taylor admitted causing an explosion but denied a racist motive.

Judge Peter Jacobs ruled that the attack was racially motivated.

No-one was injured in the attack. Lusher, 22, from Thetford and Maynard, 25, from Watton, received five year terms.

Taylor, 21, from Shipdham, was jailed for five and a half years.

Judge Jacobs said the attack had "put a community in fear". He said he had increased their sentences to reflect the racist motive.

He also rejected the argument by the defence that the bomb was not a nail bomb and that the nails, bolts and screws were used as ballast.