Pair jailed for six-month intimidation campaign against Hastings social workers

A man who used a private investigator to track down social workers before setting fire to a car and smashing the windows of their homes has received a life jail sentence. 

Jamie Wilder, 30, from Hastings and his co-accused Finley Kudjo, 20, were both imprisoned after members of staff working for Hastings social services were targeted. 

An elderly couple, unconnected with Hastings Social Services had their car set alight and their house damaged in a case of mistaken identity. 

Kudjo, also from Hastings received a four-year jail term for his lesser role in the campaign of harassment and criminal damage which lasted between June 2021 and January 2022. 

Jamie Wilder, 30, received a life prison term after he admitted conducting a six-month campaign of terror against workers at Hastings Social Services. He will have to serve a minimum of eight years before he is eligible for release

His co-accused Finley Kudjo, 20, pictured, received a four and a half  year jail term

Police said the pair had been planning further attacks at the time of their arrest. 

According to Sussex Police, the six-month terror campaign was fuelled by ‘Wilder’s animosity towards Hastings Social Services’. 

The pair were arrested following an investigation by Sussex Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit. 

Wilder pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, conspiracy to commit arson and supplying cocaine. 

A further charge of money laundering will lie on file. 

Kudjo pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to commit arson. 

Following their guilty pleas, Wilder was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of eight years. 

Hove Crown Court sentenced Kudjo to four and a half years in prison. 

The pair were jailed at a hearing of Hove Crown Court on December 23