A man has been accused of setting fire to 18 cars in a series of arson attacks that resulted in £170,000 in damages. Families in the area were terrified and had to evacuate their homes. For the first time, the man has been identified in a picture.
David Giddins appeared at court today 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.
The vehicles set on fire included a pub and a flat where a mother and her two young daughters were forced to escape in their pajamas when a Ford Ka below their flat was set ablaze.
The arson attacks took place at 1:20 am, waking up neighbors to the sound of multiple cars being engulfed in flames. Videos captured the frightening scene of the night sky glowing orange from the fire and the loud bangs that followed.
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.
David Giddins (pictured) is charged with 18 counts of arson for the crime spree that shocked locals
A mother and her two young daughters had to flee from in their pyjamas after a Ford Ka parked below was set ablaze. Pictured: Firefighters tackling the blaze engulfing the car
Another vehicle and a van are seen engulfed in the flames during the attack which caused £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.
By daylight, the market town resembled a ‘war zone’ with the burnt-out shells of cars close together
This picture shows another vehicle which was touched during the attack in the quaint Dorset town
A woman looks at a burned out Ford Ka in the porch of the courtyard after the car fires in Wimborne
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.
NHS nurse Lisa Dodd ,pictured , 44, was hailed a hero for saving a family at the height of the arson attacks
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.’
