An arsonist described as “evil” has been handed a life sentence for the murder of an 82-year-old pensioner, whose home was engulfed in flames after a wheelie bin was deliberately set alight.
Andrew Gorrell, 55, must serve a minimum of 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 the blaze, which occurred in the early hours of May 11 last year at his home on Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Gorrell, who was wearing a “Nightmare On Elm Street” T-shirt – a horror film featuring a character burned alive – had placed the burning bin to block the front door, allowing the fire to spread rapidly through the property.
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers KC told Gorrell he was “a highly dangerous individual” with a clear interest in fire.
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. Gorrell blinked repeatedly as his sentence was delivered.
The judge highlighted the devastating impact on the victims’ family, noting that victim personal statements, including one from Mr Edwards’ grandchild, showed the consequences of Gorrell’s actions were “absolutely horrendous”.
Judge Chambers added: “For anyone to wake up in the night to find their home on fire is a living nightmare.” He further stated that Mr Edwards “had a horrendous experience” before his death. The court heard that Mr Edwards’ two adult sons, Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were staying at their parents’ home that night.
The court heard Gorrell has a long history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking before setting the fatal fire, along with three other nearby wheelie bin blazes. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC revealed Gorrell had received a 12-month custodial sentence in 1990 for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector in his late teens.
Gorrell’s motive for travelling from Chester to Wolverhampton by train, then taking a tram to Wednesbury, remains unexplained.
The judge noted: “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.”
Ms Brand told the jury during the trial: “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.”
Passing concurrent jail sentences for the other offences, Judge Chambers stated: “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.”
He concluded that Gorrell had shown little remorse, describing the incident as “clearly an evil random attack the reason for which is not clear.” As he was led from the dock, Gorrell thanked the judge and told family members: “I am really sorry.”
