Latest news with #Wimborne
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
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Man, 49, accused of torching 18 cars in spate of late night arson attacks that 'caused £170k worth of damage' and left families in quaint market town fleeing their homes
A man accused of setting ablaze 18 cars in a spate of arson attacks which caused £170,000 worth of damage and left horrified families fleeing their homes has been pictured for the first time. David Giddins appeared at court charged with 18 counts of arson for the crime spree that shocked locals. Emergency services rushed to the scene of multiple fires in Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley, in Dorset, in the early hours of May 15, 2023. Police were called to 18 reports of damage to vehicles and properties between 1am and 2am. These included a pub as well as a flat where a mother and her two young daughters had to flee from in their pyjamas after a Ford Ka parked below was set ablaze. Neighbours were woken up at 1.20am as multiple cars were being ripped by flames outside their homes, with videos showing the night sky being lit up by a 'glowing orange' and loud bangs from the fire. By daylight, the market town resembled a 'war zone' with the burnt-out shells of cars close together. In total, it's estimated that the attacks caused more than £170,000 in damages One vehicle that was destroyed was valued at £20,000, while another was almost £15,000. The damage to the Willett Arms pub was put at £11,000 while the flat suffered fire damage to the value of £76,000. Giddins appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court today to answer the charges whilst the court heard the breakdown of the damage which is alleged to have been caused. The 45-year-old, of Wimborne town centre, who was dressed in blue denim jeans, a dark shirt and Nike trainers, didn't enter any pleas. District Judge Orla Austin said the matters were too serious for her to deal with and sent the matter to Bournemouth Crown Court. He was released on unconditional bail and will next appear in court next month. In the days which followed the horrific attack, an NHS nurse was hailed a hero for saving a family. Lisa Dodd, 44, was about to go to bed when she noticed an odd-looking glowing light from her bedroom blinds. She looked out and spotted a Ford Ka car ablaze in a courtyard directly next to a 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. A fundraising page was launched to raise £2,000 to help the family get back on their feet. Family friend Dominique Drayson said: '(Ruth) and the girls were asleep upstairs as fire spread from their car up to their flat. Luckily, they escaped in time, but moments later they would have died.' Ms Dodd said: 'I was just settling down in my upstairs bedroom when I noticed something a bit strange behind my blinds. 'The light seemed a bit off, and when I looked out, I saw the bonnet of the car on fire. 'I knew that there was a sleeping family in the room next to the fire, and I was worried that the car would explode. The Ford Ka (pictured) car was completely destroyed by the fire 'I immediately ran out to wake them up and get them out of the room. '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.' Local resident Paul Deer said: 'Lisa is a hero. The mum and her two daughters were fast asleep when it happened. 'They wouldn't have had a chance.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Wimborne: forget-me-not display created for dementia action week
More than 9,000 knitted forget-me-nots have been created to raise awareness of dementia action from across the UK have taken part in the project, knitting and crocheting handmade woollen flowers, which now adorn the Museum of East Dorset in Hollow, director of the museum, said: "It really is something that is making a lot of people stop and pay attention."The flowers have been posted from as far away as Glasgow and Lancashire, many with notes about how they were knitted in memory of a lost loved one who grew up in Wimborne. Ms Hollow said: "There's so much personal connection people have with dementia, it's really impactful."We are so proud of the many dementia-friendly initiatives we run here at the museum and in the community."Sally Palmer works in the tea room in the museum and has volunteered there in some capacity for 13 said she approached people while they were having their coffee to ask if they knitted or crocheted."If they said yes I shoved a pattern in front of them and said 'would you like to knit some for me?'" she said. "It really worked. People were taking their patterns away and getting their friends and getting their knitting groups and social groups involved and that's how we got a lot more."Ms Palmer has also knitted delightful dementia teddies as part of the blue and white flowers have become synonymous with the Alzheimer's Society. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fletcher scores second equaliser of Easter weekend as Wimborne draw with Sholing
WILL Fletcher scored his second equaliser of the Easter weekend as Wimborne Town picked up a point in their final home game of the season against Sholing. Owen Roundell-Prince came into Tim Sill's side in the only change from the Good Friday draw against Hungerford. It was a bright start from the hosts at the Wyatt Homes Stadium, and had the ball in the back of the net in the sixth minute through Jez Bedford, but he was penalised after brushing off a defender as he chased a through ball. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring with 10 minutes on the clock. (Image: Steve_Harris) Wimborne won a corner after a Matty Burrows cross was deflected behind, and after clearing the set piece, Sholing went on a rapid counter attack and the Magpies defenders failed to deal with it, Brad Targett finding the net well from the D. The Magpies dominated possession in the first half but Sholing soaked it up and looked to counterattack. Fletcher hit the side netting after a Sam Jackson diagonal, and at the other end, Billie Busari drew a save out of Ross Flitney, who was playing his final game before retirement. Wimborne kept coming and had chances through Roundell-Prince, Josh Carmichael and Burrows, but weren't able to draw themselves level before the interval. (Image: Steve_Harris) The game continued in the same manner after the break, Cam Munn denied by Pat Nash in the Sholing goal and Carmichael attempting to lob the keeper from an audacious free kick but Nash was able to catch. But the Magpies found the deserved equaliser on 62 minutes, Munn finding Fletcher who went past two defenders and fired past Nash from 12 yards. Both sides had opportunities to win the game, but neither were able to find the decisive goal and the game ended all square.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimborne five unbeaten with comeback win at Chertsey
WIMBORNE went to five games unbeaten with a 2-1 win on their first visit to Chertsey in the Southern League Premier South. The Magpies trailed at half time but second half goals from Will Fletcher and Matty Burrows brought the three points back to Dorset. Tim Sills named an unchanged side from that which beat Frome, as the hosts made more of the early running, shooting over the bar and keeper Cam Plain catching well from a free kick in the opening minutes. Plain caught again from a strike from Chertsey dangerman Jack Mazzone, as Wimborne weathered the early storm and threatened themselves, Burrows testing keeper Strizovic and a corner causing some chaos before the hosts scrambled clear. Strizovic saved well from a Fletcher effort before Harvey Wright was inches away from the opener. But Chertsey opened the scoring just after the half an hour mark, Toby Little's free kick from just outside the box finding the back of the net via a deflection. Wimborne weren't able to find an equaliser before the interval but drew themselves level just two minutes after the break. Burrows put a low cross into the box from the right, Fletcher meeting it and blasting the ball home from 10 yards. At 1-1, both sides sought the lead again, but it was the visitors who would hit the front on 72 minutes. Fletcher and Burrows were again involved, the former controlling Sam Jackson's pass in the centre circle and driving towards the goal, getting a shot off that was saved by Strizovic. Burrows was the quickest to react and fired into the empty net to hand Wimborne the lead. Chertsey sought an equaliser, Plain catching well under pressure before Conor Lee fired a 35-yard free kick wide in the final minute of six added minutes. The three points sees Wimborne rise to 11th in the table after five games unbeaten and back-to-back wins.
