Revenge Fire Horror: Mum and Three Children Killed in Bradford Arson Attack
In a chilling act of revenge, a mother and her three young children endured terrifying final hours before perishing in a deliberately set fire at their family home in Bradford. Bryonie Gawith, aged 29, along with her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, lost their lives in the early hours of August 21, 2025. The blaze was ignited by Sharaz Ali, the ex-partner of Bryonie's sister, Antonia Gawith, who was also present in the property on Westbury Road at the time.
Sentencing and Motive
On March 6, 2026, Sharaz Ali was handed a whole life term for the murders, with prosecutors stating he was "fuelled by drink and drugs" during the attack. The judge described Ali's actions as motivated by "revenge and sexual jealousy", noting substantial pre-meditation and planning. Ali had been in a relationship with Antonia, who had ended it weeks earlier, and he seemingly blamed Bryonie for influencing that decision.
The Night of the Attack
Antonia Gawith had finished a shift at Tesco and was sharing Bryonie's bedroom when Ali began sending accusatory messages, alleging she was with another man. Bryonie advised her sister to ignore him, and Antonia started to fall asleep. Later, the doorbell rang, and Antonia discovered Ali and another man, Calum Sunderland, had kicked down the front door. Ali poured petrol on Antonia, who begged him to stop, saying, "please don’t, I love you, I’ll come back, don’t do this".
Despite her pleas, Ali continued his rampage. Antonia attempted to grab the lighter from his hands before fleeing the house, assuming he would follow. However, when she turned back, Ali had set the staircase ablaze as Bryonie tried to protect her children by kicking him down the stairs. Antonia recalled, "I pulled the petrol off him and tried to get him out, and then he hit the lighter. I seen him set on fire, and all the stairs, and my sister."
Desperate Attempts to Save the Family
The fire erupted rapidly, and Antonia tried to rescue her sister from the inferno. Bryonie had called 999 while descending the stairs, then threw her phone out of the window. Antonia picked it up, screaming for emergency services to send police, ambulance, and fire brigade. "I was just screaming, trying to get back in the house and I couldn’t get in. I couldn’t save them," she tearfully told officers.
Police arrived quickly and arrested Ali, but by the time fire services reached the scene, it was too late to save Bryonie and her children. Antonia described Ali as "controlling" throughout their relationship, with tendencies to drink and take drugs. She had left him weeks before, and Ali's messages hinted at his vengeful intentions, including one that read, "I’ll be gone in two days. Remember your so-called friend will not look at you again in two days and that I promise."
Co-Defendant and Family Statement
Calum Sunderland, 26, was convicted of four counts of manslaughter for assisting Ali by filling a cannister with fuel, driving to the home, and fleeing after the attack. His defence claimed he believed he was recruited to burn a car and expressed shock upon discovering Ali's true plans. Sunderland sent a letter of apology to the Gawith family, stating, "Kicking that door down will forever be the biggest mistake of my life."
The family of Bryonie and her children released a heartfelt statement, expressing that no sentence can heal their pain or bring back their loved ones. They said, "Every day, our hearts ache with the emptiness they left behind... They live in us, and through us, they will never be gone."
This tragic case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and revenge-driven actions, leaving a community in mourning and a family forever changed.
