A man with learning difficulties has been convicted of attempting to burn down a mosque.
Richard Hall, 29, of Iona Close, Broadfield, Crawley, was found guilty of arson and burglary at Chichester Crown Court today.
He denied trying to burn down the Islamic Centre in Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, on the evening of March 10, 2005, despite initially confessing to the crime at Crawley police station.
He later claimed the admission was made when he was agitated after drinking alcohol while on antidepressants.
DNA samples taken from the inside of the mosque door, a damaged pay phone and a bottle of white spirit had been matched with Hall.
He will be sentenced next month.
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