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A fire starter who killed an elderly person by igniting a trash can, which then set the victim’s house ablaze and left two other family members in a coma, has received a prison sentence of at least 25 years.

Andrew Gorrell was dressed in a “Nightmare on Elm Street” shirt—a movie where the main character is burned to death—when he unexpectedly attacked the house of 82-year-old John Edwards, who passed away in the hospital weeks later.

Gorrell blinked repeatedly as he received his sentenceWolverhamptonThe Crown Court sentenced him to life imprisonment and informed him that he must serve a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible to request parole.

The 55-year-old, from Saltney in Flintshire, NorthWales, was convicted in February of murder, two charges of causing serious bodily injury with intent, attempting to cause serious bodily injury with intent, and arson with the intention of endangering life.

Mr. Edwards succumbed to his injuries following a wheelie bin fire that had been positioned to block the front door, which then spread to his house on Holyhead Road in Wednesbury.West Midlands, in the early hours of May 11 of the previous year.

Judge Michael Chambers KC stated that Gorrell’s behavior on the day, along with his prior conviction for arson, indicated he was ‘a very dangerous person’ who had a fascination with fire.

The judge said to Gorrell: “For someone to awaken during the night and discover their house engulfed in flames is a living nightmare.”

The judge stated that the personal accounts provided by the victim’s relatives, including a statement from one of Mr. Edwards’ grandchildren, demonstrated that the effects of Gorrell’s actions were ‘truly terrible’.

Judge Chambers was informed by prosecutor Rachel Brand KC that Gorrell, who was in his late teens at the time, received a 12-month prison sentence in 1990 at Knutsford Crown Court inCheshiresetting fire to a club during employment as a glass collector.

The court was informed that Gorrell has a prolonged history of alcohol misuse and had consumed alcohol prior to starting the deadly fire along with three other nearby wheelie bin fires.

Receiving concurrent prison terms of as many as 12 years for crimes other than murder, the judge stated: ‘No punishment I can give can reverse time, nor should it be seen as an effort to assign a monetary worth to a person’s life.’

‘You took the train fromChesterto Wolverhampton, and then during the early hours of the day, you boarded a tram to Wednesbury.

Why you went there has never been completely clarified – you chose not to provide testimony. However, upon arriving, you intentionally started several fires.

The judge stated: ‘Prior to Edwards’s death, he went through a terrible ordeal. I must admit, I am not convinced there was much sorrow or regret regarding the events that took place.’

It was evidently a malicious, unpredictable assault, with the motive remaining uncertain.

The court heard that Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, the two grown sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, were both spending the night at their parents’ house.

Ms. Brand informed the jury during the trial, “We are unaware of why he (Gorrell) was walking around Wednesbury in the middle of the night. We don’t know why he chose to start a fire at the Edwards family’s residence.”

When he was taken into custody and questioned, he remained silent in response to all the police’s inquiries. Only the defendant knows the reason.

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