Abrar Mirza, then aged 23, (pictured) was jailed for four and a half years in 2009 for his part in an arson attack on a £2.5million house in Islington, north London, along with Ali Beheshti and Abbas Taj

A former Muslim extremist who was imprisoned for firebombing the home of a man who published a book about Mohammed has turned his life around and now owns a hipster beard grooming service.

Abrar Mirza, then aged 23, was jailed for four and a half years in 2009 for his part in an arson attack on a £2.5million house in Islington, north London, along with Ali Beheshti and Abbas Taj.

The trio poured diesel through the letterbox of Martin Rynja's £2.5million house and set it alight to 'punish' him for agreeing to release The Jewel of Medina, a fictional account of the Prophet's child bride.

But Mirza, who insists he is a changed man, says he has turned his life around and now runs the London Beard Company which sells £14.99 organic beard oil and is stocked in luxury department store Fortnum and Mason.

Yesterday he told the Daily Star Sunday his conviction was a mistake when he was young.

He said: 'I am British, this is my home. I got into the wrong crowd and my life is very different now.

'I have had a lot of help. I was young and hotheaded.

'I don't feel the same way any more. I feel sorry for the victim - I would never do it again.'

In April 2009 Mirza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to recklessly damage property and endanger life at a court hearing.

His accomplice, Beheshti, also pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Behesheti was a follower of hate cleric Abu Hamza and achieved notoriety at a protest against Danish cartoons of Mohammed when he was photographed with his baby daughter, whom he had dressed in a pink bonnet celebrating Al Qaeda.

A man identified as Abraa Mirza is seen working at his London Beard Company market stall today

The London Beard Company is stocked in luxury department store Fortnum and Mason. Pictured, Mirza today

Cab driver Taj of Forest Gate, East London, acted as the getaway driver as Beheshti and Mirza, then a mobile phone salesman of Walthamstow, north east London, poured diesel into the house.

A small fire began but nobody was hurt because police and fire crews arrived in time to smash down the door and put it out. The trio were then captured fleeing the scene by police.

Now, a reformed Mirza's company sells organic beard oil in a variety of scents and beard combs.

On the London Beard Company website, the owners claim: 'Born and bred in London, we have noticed how the fabric of the city has changed where once the beard was uncommon but has now become a mainstream feature worn with pride.

'We’re here to cater for all types of beard growers, from the stubbly geeks to the full flowing beardsmen.

Behesheti (pictured) was a follower of hate cleric Abu Hamza and achieved notoriety at a protest when he was photographed with his daughter whom he had dressed in a pink bonnet celebrating Al Qaeda

'Our aim is to help the fellow man take pride and maintain his glorious beard or stubble using the best products available. Handcrafted in London by Londoners.'