Andrew Gorrell, a 55-year-old arsonist wearing a 'Nightmare on Elm Street' T-shirt, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 82-year-old John Edwards. The attack occurred in the early hours of May 11 last year when Gorrell set a wheelie bin on fire outside the victim's home on Holyhead Road in Wednesbury, West Midlands. Mr Edwards died in hospital two weeks later. Two other family members were left in a coma.
Sentencing and Minimum Term
At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday, 6 July, Judge Michael Chambers KC sentenced Gorrell to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years before he can apply for parole. Gorrell 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.
Details of the Attack
CCTV footage showed Gorrell carrying a carrier bag and igniting a suspected cigarette butt found on the floor. He moved between the front gardens of Mr Edwards' house and a neighbouring property for around 40 minutes before setting the wheelie bin alight. The bin, placed to block the front door, caused the fire to spread to the home. Using facial recognition technology, West Midlands Police identified Gorrell as the suspect.
Previous Conviction and Alcohol Abuse
The court heard that Gorrell had a previous conviction for arson: in 1990, at age 19, he was given a 12-month custodial sentence for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector in Cheshire. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC stated 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.
Judge's Remarks
Judge Chambers described Gorrell as 'a highly dangerous individual' with an interest in fire, noting his T-shirt referencing the horror film in which fire is prominent. He told Gorrell: 'For anyone to wake up in the night to find their home on fire is a living nightmare.' The judge added that the impact on the family was 'absolutely horrendous' and that he was not persuaded of much remorse. As Gorrell was led out of the dock, he thanked the judge and turned to family members, saying: 'I am really sorry.'
Victim Impact
Mr Edwards' wife and two adult sons, Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were also in the home at the time. The sons suffered severe injuries and were left in a coma. Victim personal statements described the ordeal as 'absolutely horrendous'. The judge imposed concurrent jail sentences of up to 12 years for the other offences, stating: '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.'
