Birmingham arson attack: Two men jailed for Daniel Gardner's death

Two men have been jailed following the death of Daniel Gardner, who was killed in an arson attack at his house in Birmingham.

Stephen Dale and Tyler Phythian carried out the attack by pouring petrol on the entrance of Mr Gardner’s flat on Saxons Way, Highters Heath, before lighting it and fleeing the scene. Mr Gardner, aged 36, could not escape and died from his injuries.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that Dale had been in a relationship with Mr Gardner’s ex-partner at the time of the fatal fire. Mr Gardner and his ex-partner were still in touch as she was the mother of his two children.

The court established that Dale, aged 47, came to see Gardner as a ‘significant problem’ and felt he had to act. Dale persuaded his friend and neighbour Phythian, aged 18, to travel with him by taxi to a petrol station on Shirley High Street, just after midnight on 19th September. They filled up a petrol canister before taking a taxi back to the Highters Heath area and walking to Mr Gardner’s flat.

CCTV captured a large flash and then the pair running away, with Phythian holding the petrol can and one of Dale’s feet on fire. The blaze was so intense that a neighbour’s front door also caught fire.

Before he was arrested, Phythian told an associate: “We didn’t go to kill. We went to set his car on fire. My man changed his mind in the last second.”

Earlier this year, both men, of Cherrywood Road, Birmingham, were convicted of arson with intent, while Dale was found guilty of manslaughter.

Yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court, Dale was jailed for 24 years, while Phythian was jailed for four years.

Det Insp Ade George, who led the investigation, said: "This was a cowardly attack on a man in his own home in the middle of night, which has left two children without a father." He added that both men had been involved in buying the petrol and stayed together throughout the attack, running away together.

Speaking after Daniel Gardner's death, his family said: "Words cannot describe the unbearable pain and devastation we all feel. You gave everything and never expected anything in return. My heart will always be broken but I hope I can find the strength to carry on without you."

The family expressed their gratitude for the support they received during the investigation.