Denise Welch’s knife-carrying arsonist stalker jailed for seven years
A KNIFE-carrying stalker who torched Loose Women star Denise Welch’s garage was jailed for seven years and seven months.
The former Coronation Street actress gave evidence by video-link from the US as Toraq Wyngard, 64, was sentenced.
She said: “I have a wonderful life and this man has permanently scarred it.”
Ms Welch, 63, said she was alerted to the 11pm fire by her husband’s “piercing scream” after a passer-by told them of the blaze started in a skip in their driveway.
CCTV showed a man in a baseball cap covered in metallic badges.
He looked around the property before appearing to pour an accelerant into the skip and setting it alight.
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It spread to the garage attached to their house and caused £4,285 of damage.
Wyngard was later arrested nearby in Wilmslow, Cheshire, wearing the cap.
Police found a 4in kitchen knife in his rucksack and two cameras.
He had spy cameras and binoculars at his home in Salford.
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Chester crown court heard he was released under investigation.
Ms Welch and her husband then found “Witch” and “Pimp” scrawled on their front gate.
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CCTV showed Wyngard writing the graffiti.
Wyngard admitted stalking, having a knife, criminal damage and arson.