Darren Davies sentenced to four years for arson of Lancashire bungalow

55‑year‑old Darren Davies set fire to the £260,000 detached bungalow he shared with his brother Craig in Hambleton, Lancashire, after mistakenly believing a secret will had excluded him from the inheritance. He placed three gas cylinders, petrol and a candle inside the home, causing an explosion that collapsed the roof and filled the street with smoke and debris. Witnesses saw Davies emerge uninjured and tell a passer‑by, “If I can’t have it, no one can.”

At Preston Crown Court he pleaded guilty to reckless arson and was sentenced to four years and four months in prison. Craig Davies testified that their parents’ wills gave each brother an equal share of the property, and that Darren’s belief in a hidden will was unfounded.

The case highlights a violent family dispute over inheritance and the severe legal consequences of arson.