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Dramatic Escape as Arson Blaze Engulfs Brighton Property

Suspects Charged and Trial Details Unveiled

Two individuals have been sentenced following a series of deliberate fires in Brighton, with two more awaiting sentencing next month.

The incidents began on 24 September 2023, when a Range Rover parked outside a property in Downsway, Woodingdean, was set alight at around 9.10pm. Emergency services responded swiftly, but the vehicle’s front end was already engulfed in flames.

Sussex Police Investigate Brighton Fires: Sentencing Updates
Photo – Sussex police

The following evening, a second fire broke out at a property in Down Terrace, Brighton, at 10pm. The blaze, which started outside the building, quickly spread, trapping a woman and her dog inside. The pair managed to escape through an upstairs window before the fire consumed the property.

Shortly after, at 10.25pm, another fire was reported outside a home in Norwich Crescent, Brighton. This blaze, though limited to damage to a window frame, was also determined to have been started deliberately.

Investigation Leads to Arrests and Sentences

An investigation by Sussex Police found accelerants had been used in all three fires. Four suspects were identified: Callum Radband, 26, Elle-Mai Dunford, 21, Marcus Murphy, 28, and Bronnie Richards, 26.

The case involved extensive inquiries, including the recovery of CCTV footage and videos directly linking Dunford and Radband to the fires at Down Terrace and Norwich Crescent. The involvement of Murphy and Richards was also corroborated by surveillance evidence.

Dunford pleaded guilty to her role in all three incidents at Hove Crown Court on 9 October 2024. Following a nearly four-week trial, a jury at Lewes Crown Court returned its verdicts on 2 December 2024.

Radband was found guilty of two counts of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered, relating to the Down Terrace and Norwich Crescent fires. He was acquitted of the Range Rover fire due to insufficient evidence.

Murphy and Richards were found guilty of arson in connection with the Norwich Crescent fire but were cleared of involvement in the other incidents.

Dunford and Radband were sentenced on 20 January 2025 at Lewes Crown Court. Dunford received seven years and four months, while Radband was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison. Murphy and Richards are due to be sentenced on 17 February.

“A Deeply Concerning Series of Incidents”

Speaking about the investigation, Detective Emily Farley said:
“This was a deeply concerning series of incidents, where multiple fires were deliberately set, causing significant damage to homes and personal property.

“A tireless effort was invested to piece together the evidence, helped by the cooperation of the community throughout police enquiries.

“Such actions not only endanger lives but also devastate the sense of safety in our neighbourhoods. Dunford and Radband have now been given substantial sentences for the serious roles they played, and we await the further sentencing of Richards and Murphy on February 17.”

The investigation highlights the danger posed by deliberate acts of arson and the commitment of emergency services and police to ensuring justice.

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