Overview

• David Robert Giddins, 45, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of arson and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 26 September 2025.
• Fires were set at around 1am on 15 May 2023 across multiple streets, with blazes spreading from vehicles to properties.
• Six earlier arsons from 2018 and January 2023 were taken into consideration at sentencing, bringing total damage attributed to £256,000.
• Detectives used CCTV review and witness statements, working with the fire service, to identify Giddins and arrest him on 17 May 2023.
• Victim statements described homelessness, lost tools worth about £3,000, higher insurance costs and lasting anxiety, while the defence cited diagnoses including pyromania.