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Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Arsonist who torched 18 cars in drug-fuelled £170,000 rampage that turned quaint market town into 'warzone' faces jail after guilty plea
An arsonist who caused £170,000 worth of damage after setting fire to 18 cars and turned a picturesque town into a 'warzone' has pleaded guilty and is facing jail. David Giddins, 45, went on a drug-fuelled rampage when he began torching parked cars in the rural market town of Wimborne, Dorset. Giddins went from street to street in the early hours of the morning randomly setting light to the vehicles. In two incidents the flames spread to neighbouring buildings with one family forced to flee their flat in their pyjamas. Shocking footage from the time showed the night sky 'glowing orange' from the amount of car fires. By daylight, the area resembled a 'war zone' with the blackened burnt-out shells of cars littering the streets. The vehicles that were destroyed included a £5,000 BMW, a £20,000 Volkswagen Passat and a Land Rover that suffered £3,000 damage. The fire and smoke damage suffered to a first floor flat after a Ford Ka parked below it was torched ran to £76,000. Giddins went from street to street in the early hours of the morning randomly setting light to the vehicles In total, it's estimated that the attacks caused more than £170,000 in damages. The criminal appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to 20 charges of arson. Kevin Hill, defending, said: 'He was at the time of the offences under the influence of drugs and alcohol.' Giddins will be sentenced in September while probation and psychiatric reports are carried out on him. The court heard that Giddins, who lives in West Borough in Wimborne, has 'no formal psychiatric history' and has not been diagnosed with any mental health conditions. Judge Fuller also asked for an explanation as to why it has taken the police and CPS so long to bring the case to court. Adam Furze, prosecuting, said: 'I don't have an answer to that. I echo your concerns about how long it has taken. I will ensure a full explanation is given at the sentencing.' Although he was granted bail, Judge Jonathan Fuller warned the arsonist that was not an indication of what his sentence will be. Giddins began his arson spree at about 11pm on May 14, 2023, and went on until about 1.30am the next morning. The fire service received 65 999 calls that night and emergency services rushed to the scene. An NHS nurse was hailed a hero on the night for saving a terrified family from their burning flat. Lisa Dodd, 44, was about to go to bed when she noticed a Ford Ka ablaze in a courtyard below the flat where Ruth Thompson and her two teenage daughters live. Ms Dodd rushed outside and banged on a window to wake the family and alert them to the fire. By that stage, the flames had spread to the property and Ms Thompson and her daughters had to squeeze through a six-inch gap between the blazing car and their flat to make their escape. They were made homeless by the arson attack, and all their clothes and belongings have been ruined by water and smoke damage. The Ford Ka (pictured) car was completely destroyed by the fire Ms Dodd said: 'I immediately ran out to wake them up and get them out. 'If the engine had exploded and set the door on fire there would have been no way out. 'I just wanted to get everyone into safety. If I had been a minute later, the fire would have spread. 'I got to them just in time. It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened.' Darren Trickett, 60, whose Land Rover Discovery was destroyed on Grove Road, said: 'I woke up when I heard a bang. I looked out the window and saw my car in flames. I was worried that the engine might explode. 'I ran out of the house to try to get the fire extinguisher from the boot but the central locking wouldn't work. I just stood and watched. I just can't believe it.'
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
Wimborne man admits 20 arsons after night of car fires
A man has pleaded guilty to 20 arson charges following a night of car fires in Dorset in crews were called to multiple fires in Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley in the early hours of 15 Police said it received reports of damage to vehicles and property between about 01:00 and 03:00 Robert Giddins, 45, from Wimborne, is due to be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 11 September. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Man, 49, charged with arson over devastating fire at quaint town after he ‘torched 18 cars causing £170,000 damage'
A MAN has been charged over a horror blaze that caused £170,000 of damage after 18 cars were torched in a late-night rampage through a quaint market town. David Giddins, 49, of Wimborne town centre in Dorset, faces 18 counts of arson following the devastating fires in the early hours of May 15, 2023. 11 David Giddins is accused of causing more than £170,000 damage Credit: BNPS 11 Giddins was granted unconditional bail and will return to court next month Credit: BNPS 11 The fire quickly spread to their home, destroying all their possessions and leaving the family homeless Credit: BNPS 11 A mother and her two young daughters were forced to flee their flat in pyjamas 11 Emergency crews rushed to multiple scenes throughout the night as 999 calls flooded in Credit: BNPS The terrifying rampage unfolded across Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley between 1am and 2am, with horrified residents jolted from their beds as flames erupted outside their homes. A mother and her two young daughters were forced to flee their flat in pyjamas after a Ford Ka parked directly below was set ablaze. The fire quickly spread to their home, destroying all their possessions and leaving the family homeless. Emergency crews rushed to multiple scenes throughout the night as 999 calls flooded in, with residents reporting loud bangs and the night sky lit up in a fiery orange glow. By morning, the normally tranquil market town resembled a 'war zone', with charred car wrecks and smoke damage stretching across several streets. The court heard shocking details of the damage. One car alone was valued at £20,000, another close to £15,000. A BMW sustained £5,000 damage, and a Land Rover £3,000. Flames caused £11,000 damage to the Willett Arms pub, and £76,000 to the flat. Appearing at Poole Magistrates' Court, Giddins wore blue jeans, a dark shirt and Nike trainers. He spoke only to confirm his details and did not enter any pleas. District Judge Orla Austin ruled the case was too serious for the magistrates' court and referred it to Bournemouth Crown Court. Giddins was granted unconditional bail and will return to court next month. Residents have been left shaken by the series of attacks, which police believe were carried out in quick succession across several locations. An NHS nurse, Lisa Dodd, 44, was praised for saving lives after she spotted the fire from her bedroom window. She ran outside and banged on the flat's window to wake Ruth Thompson and her daughters just in time. She said: 'If the engine had exploded and set the door on fire there would have been no way out. I just wanted to get everyone into safety. If I had been a minute later, it doesn't bear thinking about.' Locals rallied around the family, launching a fundraising campaign to help them rebuild their lives. Friend Dominique Drayson said: 'They escaped just in time, but moments later they would have died.' Neighbour Paul Deer added: 'Lisa is a hero. The mum and her two daughters were fast asleep when it happened. "They wouldn't have had a chance.' Residents in nearby roads also described being woken by the sound of explosions and seeing fire engines racing through town. One woman said the heat from the flames melted paint off her front door. 11 The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received around 65 emergency calls 11 Officers and firefighters continue to work closely together as investigations into the full scale of the destruction continue Maggie Stirrup, 70, on Grove Road, said: 'We saw the car next door on fire. "My husband is in a wheelchair and I didn't know how we'd get out if it spread.' Darren Trickett, 60, whose Land Rover was destroyed, said: 'I heard a bang and looked out the window to see my car in flames. "I tried to open it to get the fire extinguisher, but the locks wouldn't work. I just had to stand there and watch.' "This sort of thing never happens here. Why would someone do this?' Detective Sergeant Simon Austin of Dorset Police appealed for witnesses and urged anyone with home CCTV or dashcam footage to check their recordings. He said: 'These incidents have affected a large number of victims in the wider Wimborne area. "We are making every effort to identify those responsible and will maintain visible police activity in the area.' The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received around 65 emergency calls during the three-hour period of chaos. Crews were dispatched to numerous locations including Wentworth Drive, Oakley Hill, New Borough Road, Poole Road and Merley Ways, tackling fire after fire as the town came under siege. Officers and firefighters continue to work closely together as investigations into the full scale of the destruction continue. Locals say it may be a long time before the community recovers from the shock of that night. One resident said: 'Wimborne is such a peaceful place. You never expect anything like this. It felt like the whole town was under attack.' Police are urging anyone with information to call 101 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers. 11 PoppyBaker/BNPS Pictured: The Ford Ka burning in the porch of the courtyard Credit: BNPS 11 A woman looks at the burnt out Ford Ka in the porch of the courtyard Credit: BNPS 11 MaxWillcock/BNPS Pictured: One of the burnt out cars in New Borough Road Credit: BNPS
The Sun
25-05-2025
- The Sun
Man, 49, charged with arson over devastating fire at quaint town after he ‘torched 18 cars causing £170,000 damage'
A MAN has been charged over a horror blaze that caused £170,000 of damage after 18 cars were torched in a late-night rampage through a quaint market town. David Giddins, 49, of Wimborne town centre in Dorset, faces 18 counts of arson following the devastating fires in the early hours of May 15, 2023. 11 11 11 The terrifying rampage unfolded across Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley between 1am and 2am, with horrified residents jolted from their beds as flames erupted outside their homes. A mother and her two young daughters were forced to flee their flat in pyjamas after a Ford Ka parked directly below was set ablaze. The fire quickly spread to their home, destroying all their possessions and leaving the family homeless. Emergency crews rushed to multiple scenes throughout the night as 999 calls flooded in, with residents reporting loud bangs and the night sky lit up in a fiery orange glow. By morning, the normally tranquil market town resembled a 'war zone', with charred car wrecks and smoke damage stretching across several streets. The court heard shocking details of the damage. One car alone was valued at £20,000, another close to £15,000. A BMW sustained £5,000 damage, and a Land Rover £3,000. Flames caused £11,000 damage to the Willett Arms pub, and £76,000 to the flat. Appearing at Poole Magistrates ' Court, Giddins wore blue jeans, a dark shirt and Nike trainers. He spoke only to confirm his details and did not enter any pleas. District Judge Orla Austin ruled the case was too serious for the magistrates' court and referred it to Bournemouth Crown Court. Giddins was granted unconditional bail and will return to court next month. Residents have been left shaken by the series of attacks, which police believe were carried out in quick succession across several locations. An NHS nurse, Lisa Dodd, 44, was praised for saving lives after she spotted the fire from her bedroom window. She ran outside and banged on the flat's window to wake Ruth Thompson and her daughters just in time. She said: 'If the engine had exploded and set the door on fire there would have been no way out. I just wanted to get everyone into safety. If I had been a minute later, it doesn't bear thinking about.' Locals rallied around the family, launching a fundraising campaign to help them rebuild their lives. Friend Dominique Drayson said: 'They escaped just in time, but moments later they would have died.' Neighbour Paul Deer added: 'Lisa is a hero. The mum and her two daughters were fast asleep when it happened. "They wouldn't have had a chance.' Residents in nearby roads also described being woken by the sound of explosions and seeing fire engines racing through town. One woman said the heat from the flames melted paint off her front door. 11 Maggie Stirrup, 70, on Grove Road, said: 'We saw the car next door on fire. "My husband is in a wheelchair and I didn't know how we'd get out if it spread.' Darren Trickett, 60, whose Land Rover was destroyed, said: 'I heard a bang and looked out the window to see my car in flames. "I tried to open it to get the fire extinguisher, but the locks wouldn't work. I just had to stand there and watch.' "This sort of thing never happens here. Why would someone do this?' Detective Sergeant Simon Austin of Dorset Police appealed for witnesses and urged anyone with home CCTV or dashcam footage to check their recordings. He said: 'These incidents have affected a large number of victims in the wider Wimborne area. "We are making every effort to identify those responsible and will maintain visible police activity in the area.' The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received around 65 emergency calls during the three-hour period of chaos. Crews were dispatched to numerous locations including Wentworth Drive, Oakley Hill, New Borough Road, Poole Road and Merley Ways, tackling fire after fire as the town came under siege. Officers and firefighters continue to work closely together as investigations into the full scale of the destruction continue. Locals say it may be a long time before the community recovers from the shock of that night. One resident said: 'Wimborne is such a peaceful place. You never expect anything like this. It felt like the whole town was under attack.' Police are urging anyone with information to call 101 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers. 11 11 11
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Man, 49, charged with arson over devastating fire at quaint town after he ‘torched 18 cars causing £170,000 damage'
A MAN has been charged over a horror blaze that caused £170,000 of damage after 18 cars were torched in a late-night rampage through a quaint market town. David Giddins, 49, of Wimborne town centre in Dorset, faces 18 counts of arson following the devastating fires in the early hours of May 15, 2023. 11 David Giddins is accused of causing more than £170,000 damage Credit: BNPS 11 Giddins was granted unconditional bail and will return to court next month Credit: BNPS 11 The fire quickly spread to their home, destroying all their possessions and leaving the family homeless Credit: BNPS 11 A mother and her two young daughters were forced to flee their flat in pyjamas 11 Emergency crews rushed to multiple scenes throughout the night as 999 calls flooded in Credit: BNPS The terrifying rampage unfolded across Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley between 1am and 2am, with horrified residents jolted from their beds as flames erupted outside their homes. A mother and her two young daughters were forced to flee their flat in pyjamas after a Ford Ka parked directly below was set ablaze. The fire quickly spread to their home, destroying all their possessions and leaving the family homeless. Emergency crews rushed to multiple scenes throughout the night as 999 calls flooded in, with residents reporting loud bangs and the night sky lit up in a fiery orange glow. Read more on News By morning, the normally tranquil market town resembled a 'war zone', with charred car wrecks and smoke damage stretching across several streets. The court heard shocking details of the damage. One car alone was valued at £20,000, another close to £15,000. A BMW sustained £5,000 damage, and a Land Rover £3,000. Most read in The Sun Flames caused £11,000 damage to the Willett Arms pub, and £76,000 to the flat. Appearing at Poole Magistrates' Court, Giddins wore blue jeans, a dark shirt and Nike trainers. He spoke only to confirm his details and did not enter any pleas. District Judge Orla Austin ruled the case was too serious for the magistrates' court and referred it to Giddins was granted unconditional bail and will return to court next month. Residents have been left shaken by the series of attacks, which police believe were carried out in quick succession across several locations. An NHS nurse, Lisa Dodd, 44, was praised for saving lives after she spotted the fire from her bedroom window. She ran outside and banged on the flat's window to wake Ruth Thompson and her daughters just in time. She said: 'If the engine had exploded and set the door on fire there would have been no way out. I just wanted to get everyone into safety. If I had been a minute later, it doesn't bear thinking about.' Locals rallied around the family, launching a fundraising campaign to help them rebuild their lives. Friend Dominique Drayson said: 'They escaped just in time, but moments later they would have died.' Neighbour Paul Deer added: 'Lisa is a hero. The mum and her two daughters were fast asleep when it happened. "They wouldn't have had a chance.' Residents in nearby roads also described being woken by the sound of explosions and seeing fire engines racing through town. One woman said the heat from the flames melted paint off her front door. 11 The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received around 65 emergency calls 11 Officers and firefighters continue to work closely together as investigations into the full scale of the destruction continue Maggie Stirrup, 70, on Grove Road, said: 'We saw the car next door on fire. "My husband is in a wheelchair and I didn't know how we'd get out if it spread.' Darren Trickett, 60, whose Land Rover was destroyed, said: 'I heard a bang and looked out the window to see my car in flames. "I tried to open it to get the fire extinguisher, but the locks wouldn't work. I just had to stand there and watch.' "This sort of thing never happens here. Why would someone do this?' Detective Sergeant Simon Austin of Dorset Police appealed for witnesses and urged anyone with home CCTV or dashcam footage to check their recordings. He said: 'These incidents have affected a large number of victims in the wider Wimborne area. "We are making every effort to identify those responsible and will maintain visible police activity in the area.' The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received around 65 emergency calls during the three-hour period of chaos. Crews were dispatched to numerous locations including Wentworth Drive, Oakley Hill, New Borough Road, Poole Road and Merley Ways, tackling fire after fire as the town came under siege. Officers and firefighters continue to work closely together as investigations into the full scale of the destruction continue. Locals say it may be a long time before the community recovers from the shock of that night. One resident said: 'Wimborne is such a peaceful place. You never expect anything like this. It felt like the whole town was under attack.' Police are urging anyone with information to call 101 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers. 11 PoppyBaker/BNPS Pictured: The Ford Ka burning in the porch of the courtyard Credit: BNPS 11 A woman looks at the burnt out Ford Ka in the porch of the courtyard Credit: BNPS 11 MaxWillcock/BNPS Pictured: One of the burnt out cars in New Borough Road Credit: BNPS 11 BNPS Pictured: David Giddins at Poole Magistrates Court Credit: BNPS
