A Christchurch man who set fire to a church because he was "angry at God" has been jailed for six years at Christchurch District Court.
Cheyenne Reed, a 35-year-old technician twice burgled St Margaret's Presbyterian Church in November last year, stealing items such as a computer hard drive and speakers.
Then, on May 15, he returned to the church and set it on fire. The church was completely destroyed in the process, causing more than $2 million of damage.
Judge Gary MacAskill said Reed had told police he had started the fire because he was "angry at god for killing your friend in the Christchurch earthquake".
Reed had said he wanted to "get back at the church", and had acted because of the "voices in your head told you to light the fire", the judge said.
