A TRANSEXUAL who was yesterday found guilty of torching his own home is a double rapist currently serving a five-year jail sentence.

Rachael Tuscani buried his head in his hands when a jury convicted him of recklessly endangering life through arson by an 11-to-one majority verdict.

Before returning this verdict, the jury had already found Tuscani guilty of attempting to obtain property by deception. Sentence on both counts was adjourned for reports.

Following his latest convictions, The Gazette can reveal that Tuscani - formerly known as Bruce Middleditch - was found guilty earlier this year of four counts of rape, two counts of actual bodily harm, and one charge of another serious sexual offence - charges relating to offences against two women during the 1990s.

Scores of residents had to be evacuated and two families had to be rehoused when a blaze broke out at Tuscani's Faroe Close maisonette in Popley in the early hours of March 14 last year.

Tuscani - who denied both charges - said a man had petrol-bombed his home after telling him to warn a friend not to give evidence in a drugs trial.

But the majority jurors believed prosecution barrister Mr Andrew Barnett who said that the 39-year-old father's story was "full of inconsistencies and lies".

Earlier in the trial the court had heard how the fire broke out the day before Tuscani was due to have been evicted from his home by Oakfern Housing Association.

It also transpired that he had planned to fly to America to start a new life the day after the blaze. Tuscani had claimed this was merely a coincidence.

Experts cast doubt on Tuscani's story during the trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Assistant divisional officer David Lock from Hampshire Fire Brigade, said the blaze couldn't have been started by a petrol bomb.

He added it was more consistent with someone dousing the ground floor of the property with petrol.

Delighted with the guilty verdicts, Detective Sergeant Julian Venner said: "The jury were very attentive and quite clearly saw through Tuscani's lies. I am pleased that justice has been done.