Berlin's regional court on Tuesday jailed for seven years an arsonist who admitted torching 102 cars in the capital during Europe's tense summer months last year – crimes that coincided with youth riots in Britain.

Berlin prosecutors had sought an eight-year jail sentence for the destruction of mostly luxury car models, worth millions. During his trial in March, the 28-year-old man initially said he had wanted to "annoy rich people, who have so much money." Later, via his lawyer, he asked for forgiveness, saying he had learned that some car owners had worked and saved hard to buy their vehicles.

"Aside from those whose property I damaged, I set the whole city of Berlin, which I love, in fear and consternation," he told the court.

During last year's northern hemisphere summer, Berlin police deployed 500 investigators to pin down the perpetrators of more than 700 vehicles blazes. They attributed half of the cases to what they called "left-wing circles" and others to insurance fraudsters and copy-cat criminals.

The convicted painter staged his attacks close to his own Berlin accommodation and the apartment of his father. He was arrested in October when his trail of destruction suddenly stopped because he was offered a job with a catering firm.

ipj/sej (dpa, dapd, AFP)