Drug baron John Haase who tricked home secretary jailed for arson

John Haase will remain behind bars until 2030, the court heard

A notorious gangster who once tricked the home secretary into early prison release torched a £70,000 Range Rover in a row over debt, a court was told.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Liverpool career criminal John Haase committed the arson offence in March 2020 in Sheffield while on licence from prison.

Haase, 74 and of HMP Frankland, was subsequently recalled to serve the remainder of a 22-year prison sentence.

On Thursday, he was jailed for nine years for the arson attack.

The court heard how Haase had been recruited as a criminal enforcer to collect outstanding debt while out on licence.

In 2008, he was jailed for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to a Royal Pardon obtained by providing bogus "tip-offs" about firearms.

Haase and his nephew Paul Bennett told police about 150 guns supposedly hidden around the UK between 1993 and 1995 to secure a reduction in their jail terms.

Then Home Secretary Michael Howard signed off on the deal, resulting in the early release of Haase and Bennett who had only served 11 months of their 18-year sentences for heroin smuggling.

The then home secretary Michael Howard

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Sheffield Crown Court how on 14 March 2020, Haase set a Range Rover on fire after being unable to enforce the payment of a debt.

Haase denied the offence but was found guilty of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered following a trial in November 2023.

During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Judge Richardson told Haase: "When you could not enforce payment of a debt you resorted to what can only be described as a form of terror tactics of committing arson at the home of the family of the person who apparently owed the debt.

"There was significant risk of serious harm and substantial damage by what you did.

"This was plainly a planned and premediated attack with fire."

Image from 2008 showing weapons recovered following a bogus tip-off from drug barons John Haase and his nephew Paul Bennett

Judge Richardson said while Haase had no previous crimes of arson to his name, he had significant previous convictions dating back to 1966 involving robbery, drugs and firearms.

"There is then the exceptionally serious matter of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in 2008," Judge Richardson told him.

"The criminal cunning of that matter is truly breathtaking."

Judge Richardson said Haase posed a significant risk to members of the public and had "a proven track record of committing exceptionally serious and dangerous crimes".

He sentenced Haase to nine years in prison, made up of five years in custody and four on licence.

John Haase was jailed for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in 2008

Judge Richardson added: "It is as plain as plain could be that you are a dangerous criminal.

"When you asserted to me you are not, that can only be described as arrant nonsense."

Haase, who is already serving the remainder of his 22-year sentence, will remain behind bars until June 2030.