A man who set a café on fire because it had run out of mayonnaise will be jailed for three-and-a-half years.
A court approved the sentence for José Rafael G. M. on Wednesday (21 October) following a plea deal.
Prosecutors in Seville, Spain, had initially sought an 11-year prison sentence for arson.
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However, they agreed to a reduced term after José admitted his guilt and paid €9,245 (£7,740) in compensation for the extensive damage he had caused.
On 20 August 2025, staff at Las Postas café in Los Palacios y Villafranca told José Rafael they had run out of mayonnaise for his pork loin and cheese sandwich.
He is said to have initially left calmly but then went to a nearby petrol station and bought fuel.
Minutes later, he returned to the café, poured petrol from a plastic bottle over the counter and set it alight with a lighter.
Several customers, including children, were inside at the time, as reported by Need To Know.
The resulting fireball sparked panic and left two workers with minor injuries.
José Rafael was restrained by several witnesses until police arrived.
The café’s owner, José Antonio Caballero, described the incident as “something surreal” to local media the following day.
He said at the time: “He asked for mayonnaise and the waiter told him no, because we don’t have any.
“We’re a bar that mainly serves breakfast. In the afternoon, we have drinks, coffees and the odd sandwich in case someone gets hungry, not much else.”
Weeks later, mayonnaise brand Hellmann’s announced it would pay for the damage caused by the blaze.
In addition to his prison sentence, of which he has already served more than a year on remand, José will be banned from coming within 500 metres of the café for 10 years, the Seville court ruled.
He must also pay fines totalling €360 (£301) for two minor assault offences relating to the injuries suffered by the café staff.
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