A Lancashire man caused an explosion that destroyed his childhood home after wrongly believing he had been cut out of his inheritance, a court has heard.
Darren Davies, 55, set fire to the £260,000 detached bungalow in Hambleton, where he lived with his brother Craig following the deaths of their parents in 2024.
Preston Crown Court heard that neighbours in Carr Lane were disturbed by a loud explosion at around 9.50am on March 27 before the property became engulfed in flames.
Witnesses reported seeing glass and debris "fly" from the blast, which caused extensive damage to the four-bedroom bungalow and led to the roof collapsing into the rooms below.
Davies emerged from the side of the house uninjured and told a passer-by: "My family want the house.
"If I can't have it, no-one can."
The defendant also told neighbours, police officers and paramedics he had wanted to take his own life.
Prosecutor Michael O'Brien said firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control before it spread to neighbouring properties.
The court heard that investigators found three gas cylinders had been placed in the kitchen, living room, and one of the front bedrooms.
Petrol was also discovered in the loft, and a candle had been lit.
Mr O'Brien said: "Due to the extent of the fire, it was not possible for the emergency services to determine the exact location at which the fire started.
"It was concluded that the cause was the application of naked flame to combustible materials, with an ignitable liquid used to accelerate the development of the fire.
"The force of the blast exposed people in the vicinity to a risk to life."
Davies pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
On Thursday, he was jailed for four years and four months.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Craig Davies said their parents' wills had left the bungalow equally to both brothers.
He said he had told Darren last year that he wanted to sell the property and "go our separate ways", but that it would not happen immediately.
Mr Davies said: "In early 2025, Darren developed the bizarre idea that there was a secret will signed by my dad in the last few months of his life leaving the house solely to myself.
"This was a notion entirely of his making.
"He continually accused me of being part of a plot against him."
The court heard that Darren Davies' belief that he had been excluded from inheriting the property was unfounded.
Joanne Close, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "My thoughts are with Davies’ brother and the rest of the family as they continue to come to terms with the impact of this devastating incident.
Read more
"Nothing can replace the memories and belongings lost in the home.
"His brother was left only with the personal items he had taken with him on his commute.
"Everything else he owned, and everything that had belonged to their parents, was destroyed.
"The impact on his brother has been life-changing, and he has had to rely on the kindness of the community.
"Other family members have also suffered the loss of treasured family possessions and memories.
"Whilst nothing can replace what has been lost, I hope today's sentence provides them with some sense of justice."
Share