A series of arson attacks in Brighton and Woodingdean in late 2023 led to four people being convicted following an extensive police investigation.
Timeline of the Fires
September 24, 2023: A Range Rover was set on fire outside a property in Downsway, Woodingdean.
September 25, 2023: A fire broke out at Down Terrace, Brighton, causing severe damage to a building. A woman and her dog escaped through an upstairs window.
Just 25 minutes later: A third fire was reported at Norwich Crescent, Brighton. The fire was quickly extinguished, leaving minor damage to the building.
Suspects Identified and Charged
A police investigation led to the identification and subsequent charging of four suspects:
- Callum Radband, 26, of Curf Way, Burgess Hill
- Elle-Mai Dunford, 21, of Grove Road, Eastbourne
- Marcus Murphy, 28, of Cantelupe Road, Bexhill-on-Sea
- Bronnie Richards, 26, of Cantelupe Road, Bexhill-on-Sea
Dunford pleaded guilty to the charges on October 9, 2024.
Trial and Verdicts
A four-week trial at Lewes Crown Court in November 2024 resulted in the following verdicts:
- Radband was found guilty of the Down Terrace and Norwich Crescent fires but was acquitted of the Downsway vehicle fire.
- Richards and Murphy were found guilty of the Norwich Crescent fire but acquitted of the other two incidents.
Sentencing
On January 20, 2025:
- Dunford was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison.
- Radband received a six-year and eight-month prison sentence.
On February 17, 2025:
- Richards and Murphy were sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Both were also given a community order.
The investigating officer leading the case, 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.”
