A man accused of starting a fire that caused £213,000 worth of damage to lorries is wanted by police after failing to appear in court. 

Terrance Moriarty, 58, was due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court over a single charge of arson following an incident at Swannington on January 29 last year. 

A warrant seeking his immediate arrest without bail was issued by Deputy District Judge Sundeep Pankhania after he did not appear at the court hearing and failed to provide a valid reason for his absence.  

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Moriarty, of Foster Road in Norwich, has not entered a plea but is accused of deliberately starting a blaze intending to destroy or damage property or being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed. 

The blaze is said to have damaged three heavy goods vehicles belonging to Medlers, a Taverham-based specialist builders merchant.

Contents of the lorries were also destroyed in the fire.

The maximum sentence for arson is life but can attract lesser jail or community punishments depending on the level of risk, degree or planning and motivation.