Overview
- Darren Davies poured petrol in rooms and the loft, placed three gas cylinders inside and lit a candle, triggering a blast that destroyed the Hambleton bungalow on 27 March 2026 and forced nearby residents to be evacuated.
- Emergency crews brought the fire under control and arrested Davies at the scene after witnesses heard a loud explosion and saw debris thrown onto the road.
- Davies acted under a fixed, false belief that he had been cut out of his parents’ will; court records show the wills actually left the house jointly to him and his brother.
- At Preston Crown Court Davies pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and was jailed for four years and four months, with his responsibility reduced after defence psychiatric reports described an 'autism crisis' and other longstanding mental health conditions.
- Craig Davies lost nearly all family possessions and has applied for more than £170,000 in compensation, a claim that the judge said is complex and remains unresolved because probate issues must first be settled.