Latest news with #Giddins
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 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
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Staffordshire teenager running London Marathon in memory of mum
Aidan Giddins lost his mum, Joanne Cross, in 2024 after she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour."She was a bubbly, independent woman who always looked out for me and other family members," the 19-year-old commemorate her life, Mr Giddins, from Hednesford, is running the London Marathon to raise money for the charity, Brain Tumour Research."It's shocking to learn how little funding goes into researching brain tumours, especially considering how devastating this disease is." Mr Giddins added: "My Mum deserved better and so do all the other people facing this diagnosis."He recalled seeing his mum poorly in bed gave him the motivation to do something to help prevent other families facing the devastating impact of the disease. Ms Cross began experiencing severe headaches and short-term memory loss in September 2022, before discovering she had multiple surgeries and receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Joanne died in February 2024, aged 46, 18-months after her diagnosis."I'll never forget the time in the hospice when Mum was non-responsive, but she still gripped my hand, as if she knew I was there and wanted to comfort me."I don't want anyone else to have to go through that, and only a cure for brain tumours can stop this from happening," he far, Mr Giddins has raised £5, having no prior running experience, Aidan has fully committed himself to training in preparation for the marathon."I'd never even ran a 5k before so to run 42k is very challenging but training has gone very well, it's just time to get it done now."I've managed to get a solid routine in place, running at night because it allows me to study and work during the day. "There are times when it's really hard, but thinking of Mum, and support from my friends and family, keeps me going and pushes me to keep putting one foot in front of the other," he said. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
