Two men and a woman have been jailed for a total of 47 years after being found guilty of setting fire to a house while a family of four were asleep.

The three were sentenced by Judge Rodney Jameson QC at Leeds Crown Court this morning for their roles in the arson attack on a house on Stonedene Court, Heckmondwike, in the early hours of Sunday, August 11, last year.

A 17-year-old male suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident which also involved his mother and two sisters, aged 16 and 11.

All three victims were forced to jump out of windows to escape the flames.

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Mohammed Iftikar Azad, 45, of Mortimer Avenue, Healey, Batley, was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of attempted murder by a jury yesterday afternoon.

Co-conspirators Vishal Thapar, 32, of Brooke Street, Cleckheaton, and Semia Hussain, 26, of Hawthorne Avenue, Batley, were sentenced to nine years and six years respectively after both were convicted of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Sharron Kaye, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, which led the police investigation, said: “We welcome the three sentences given to Azad, Hussain and Thapar today for a targeted attack which could very easily have resulted in several people losing their lives.

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“Their actions resulted in a 17-year-old male receiving very serious injuries from which he is making a slow recovery.

“All of the family have suffered the huge emotional and psychological trauma of waking up to see their home on fire, along with suffering the loss of treasured and irreplaceable possessions.

“It is incomprehensible that three persons would be prepared to carry out this shocking crime which was instigated by Azad for personal and business reasons.

“The sentences given to all three for their roles in this offence reflect the seriousness of their actions.

“We do hope that seeing these three jailed today will be of some comfort to the victims and the wider community.”

DCI Kaye added: “I also want to praise the remarkable bravery shown by the victims’ neighbour. His own property was damaged and he himself was injured while helping one of the children who escaped.

“He was recognised and commended by the judge for his very brave actions.”