‘Evil’ arsonist who murdered a pensioner by setting a wheelie bin on fire jailed for life
An “evil” arsonist has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an 82-year-old pensioner whose home went up in flames after his wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire.
Andrew Gorrell, 55, must serve at least 25 years behind bars for the attack, which also left two other family members in a coma.
John Edwards died in hospital two weeks after a fire broke out at his home in Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands, in the early hours of May 11 last year.
Gorrell, wearing a “Nightmare on Elm Street” T-shirt from a horror movie featuring a character being burned alive, placed the burning trash can blocking the front door, allowing the fire to quickly spread through the property.
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers KC told Gorrell he was an “extremely dangerous person” with a clear interest in fire.
The 55-year-old man, from Saltney in Flintshire, North Wales, was found guilty of murder in February; He was found guilty twice of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, and arson with intent to endanger life. Gorrell blinked repeatedly as he handed down his sentence.
Noting the devastating impact of the incident on the victims’ family, the judge said personal statements from the victim, including Mr Edwards’ grandson, showed that the consequences of Gorrell’s actions were “absolutely appalling”.
Judge Chambers added: “It is a living nightmare for anyone to wake up in the night and find their house on fire.” He also stated that Mr Edwards had “gone through a terrible experience” before his death. The court heard Mr Edwards’ two adult sons, Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were staying at their parents’ home that night.
The court heard Gorrell had a long history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking before setting the fatal fire and another nearby three-wheelie bin fire. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC said Gorrell was sentenced to 12 months in prison for setting fire to a club in 1990 while he was working as a glass collector as a teenager.
Gorrell’s reason for traveling by train from Chester to Wolverhampton and then taking the tram to Wednesbury has not yet been revealed.
The judge noted: “It was never fully explained why you went there; you chose not to give evidence. However, when you got there you deliberately started several fires.”
Ms Brand told the jury during the trial: “We do not know why he decided to set fire to the Edwards family home. When he was arrested and interrogated he made no comment to all the questions asked by the police. Only the defendant can tell you why.”
Imposing concurrent sentences for the other offences, Judge Chambers said: “No sentence I could impose could turn back the clock and this should not be seen as an attempt to value human life.”
It concluded that Gorrell showed little remorse and described the incident as “an obviously demonic, random attack with no clear motive.” As he was removed from the dock, Gorrell thanked the judge and told family members: “I’m truly sorry.”
