Andrew Gorrell, 55, muttered an apology as he was jailed for life for murdering grandfather John Edwards by setting fire to his home. The 'fire-obsessed' arsonist was wearing a Nightmare On Elm Street T-shirt when he randomly targeted the 82-year-old's home in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Life sentence and minimum term
Gorrell was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years before he can apply for parole. As he was led out of the dock, he thanked the judge and turned to family members, saying: 'I am really sorry.'
The 55-year-old, from Saltney in Flintshire, North Wales, was found guilty in February of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life. Mr Edwards died of his injuries after the wheelie bin fire – placed to block the front door – spread to his home in Holyhead Road in the early hours of May 11 last year.
Judge's remarks
Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Michael Chambers KC said Gorrell's actions and his previous conviction for arson showed he was 'a highly dangerous individual' with an interest in fire. The judge told Gorrell: 'For anyone to wake up in the night to find their home on fire is a living nightmare.'
The judge noted that victim personal statements from family members, including one of Mr Edwards' grandchildren, showed the impact was 'absolutely horrendous'.
Previous arson conviction
Judge Chambers was told by prosecutor Rachel Brand KC that Gorrell – then aged in his late teens – received a 12-month custodial sentence in 1990 at Knutsford Crown Court in Cheshire for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector.
The court heard Gorrell has a long history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking before setting the fatal fire and three other nearby wheelie bin blazes. Passing concurrent jail sentences of up to 12 years for offences other than murder, the judge told him: 'No sentence I can impose can put the clock back, nor should it be viewed as an attempt to put a value on a human life.'
'You travelled by train from Chester to Wolverhampton and then in the early hours of the morning you took a tram to Wednesbury. Why you were going there has never been fully explained – you having elected not to give evidence. But once there you quite deliberately set a number of fires.'
Interest in fire
The judge said he was satisfied that Gorrell had an interest in fire due to three factors, including that he was 'wearing a T-shirt displaying a reference to a film, Nightmare On Elm Street, in which fire is a prominent feature'.
He told Gorrell: 'The occupants suffered agonising injuries and ultimately, in relation to John Edwards, death. Before he died he had a horrendous experience. I am afraid I am not persuaded of much remorse or regret in relation to what happened. It was clearly an evil random attack the reason for which is not clear.'
Trial details
Gorrell's trial was told that Mr and Mrs Edwards' two adult sons Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were both staying the night at their parents' home. Ms Brand told the jury: 'We don't know why he was wandering around Wednesbury in the middle of the night. We don't know why he decided to set a fire at the home of the Edwards family. When he was arrested and interviewed, he made no comment to all questions police asked. Only the defendant can tell you why.'
Police statement
After Gorrell was found guilty in February, Detective Inspector Nigel Box from West Midlands Police said: 'We believe Gorrell was obsessed with fire as we found a stash of fuel and a fire pit in his garden. We also discovered that Gorrell moved the wheelie bin to block the front of the door of the house making it difficult for the occupants to escape. His actions and his obsession cost an innocent man his life as well as seriously injuring others. Our thoughts remain with Mr Edwards' loved ones.'
