An arsonist who murdered an 82-year-old man by setting a wheelie bin on fire outside his home has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. Andrew Gorrell, 55, was wearing a Nightmare on Elm Street T-shirt – a horror film in which the central character is burned alive – when he randomly targeted the home of John Edwards in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Attack and aftermath
The fire, started in the early hours of May 11 last year, spread from the wheelie bin – placed to block the front door – to the house on Holyhead Road. Mr Edwards died in hospital two weeks later. Two other family members, his sons Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were left in a coma after the blaze.
Gorrell, from Saltney in Flintshire, 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.
Sentencing remarks
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday, Judge Michael Chambers KC described Gorrell as “a highly dangerous individual” with an interest in fire. The judge said: “For anyone to wake up in the night to find their home on fire is a living nightmare.” He added that victim personal statements from family members showed the impact was “absolutely horrendous”.
The court heard that Gorrell had a previous conviction for arson in 1990, when he was given a 12-month custodial sentence for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told the judge that Gorrell had a long history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking before setting the fatal fire and three other nearby wheelie bin blazes.
Random attack
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.”
Judge Chambers added: “It was clearly an evil random attack the reason for which is not clear.” As he was led out of the dock, Gorrell thanked the judge and turned to family members, saying: “I am really sorry.”
Details of the crime
Passing concurrent jail sentences of up to 12 years for offences other than murder, the judge told Gorrell: “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.” The court heard Gorrell had travelled by train from Chester to Wolverhampton and then took a tram to Wednesbury in the early hours. The reason for his journey was never fully explained, as he elected not to give evidence.
