Man jailed for six years after setting Park Gate house on fire and dousing teenager in petrol

A man has been jailed for a domestic incident which saw him throw petrol on a teenager and set a house on fire.

Police were called at 8.44pm on 3 December 2023 to an address in Park Gate which had been deliberately set alight by 55-year-old Darren Waring.

Waring had attended the BP fuel station in Park Gate at around 8.25pm that evening, where he filled up a jerry can with petrol.

Angered by the recent breakdown of his relationship, he then attended his ex-partner’s address where he began shouting at her, before pouring petrol over her car and making a trail towards the house.

Following this, he then shockingly poured petrol over his ex-partner’s teenage son whilst assaulting him and making threats. During this he also attempted to spark a lighter, before both victims were able to escape to a neighbour’s house.

Meanwhile, Waring continued to pour petrol over the doorway to his ex-partner’s house and over the floor in the lounge, before lighting it.

Firefighters attended to extinguish the blaze, and Waring was arrested by police officers. The teenage boy was taken to hospital and released the following day, however he returned on 5 December after becoming unwell – suspected to have been caused by ingesting petrol. He was then released again from hospital on 6 December.

Waring, of Aldwick Road in Bognor Regis, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Wednesday 29 May) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and making threats to kill.

He was jailed for 6 years.

DC Heather Milsom, who investigated this case, said: “This was a shocking display of domestic violence which left Waring’s ex-partner and her family extremely distressed, and put their lives at risk of serious harm.

“His actions could have killed someone that night.

“The bravery of the victims in this case, one of whom was under the age of 18 at the time, must not be understated. They have endured something incredibly traumatic, but their courage has resulted in the dangerous man responsible now being brought to justice.”