Murderer jailed for fatal random wheelie bin fire

A man who killed an 82-year-old by setting a wheelie bin on fire, engulfing the victim's home and leaving two others in a coma, has been jailed for at least 25 years.

Andrew Gorrell, 55, randomly targeted John Edwards' Wednesbury home in May 2025.

Gorrell had a long history of alcohol abuse and been drinking before setting the fatal fire and three other nearby wheelie bin blazes, a court heard.

The judge said his actions and previous conviction for arson showed he was "a highly dangerous individual".

Gorrell, of Saltney, Flintshire, north Wales, was convicted of murder.

He was also found guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The flaming wheelie bin, which had been placed to block the front door, spread to Edwards' home in Holyhead Road in the early hours of 11 May and he died in hospital.

Adult sons Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, were both staying the night at their parents' home, the trial was told.

On Monday, he was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court to life for the murder, and told he must serve a minimum term of 25 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Judge Michael Chambers KC also passed concurrent sentences of up to 12 years for the other offences, and said: "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."

The judge told Gorrell he went by train from Chester to Wolverhampton and then in the early hours took a tram to Wednesbury.

"Why you were going there has never been fully explained – you having elected not to give evidence."

Judge Chambers said he was "not persuaded of much remorse or regret in relation to what happened".

"It was clearly an evil random attack the reason for which is not clear."

Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC stated Gorrell was given a 12-month custodial sentence in 1990 at Knutsford Crown Court, Cheshire, for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector.

As he was led out of the dock, Gorrell turned to family members, saying: "I am really sorry."

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