Aptly named Crewe resident John Dangerfield is to appear in court next week on a charge of arson after burning down the entire street on which he lives. This was caused by his attempt of clearing his garden of weeds with a flame thrower that he'd won in a charity draw for Help for Heroes three weeks ago.
'I didn't think it was that powerful' explained Dangerfield from the charred remains of what was once Marshall Row in Crewe 'I just thought i'd give it one quick burst to get rid of the nettles and the next thing I know there's hell fire and inferno kicking up all over the place and the whole bloody streets on fire'.
By the time Dangerfield had ran back into his house to ring the fire brigade the flames had quickly spread across two of the neighbouring properties. The situation was worsened when the fire spread to the houses themselves thanks to the flames reaching No.8's recently erected decking which in turn set alight No.10's wooden framed conservatory before setting ablaze the rest of the street. Luckily most of the residents were successfully evacuated just in time as the carnage ensued down Marshall Row but they were left all homeless as the fire had reduced all their homes to no more than burnt out shells.
As temporary shelters were being put up to home them all today, Mr.Dangerfield was left to rue his reckless gardening techniques 'if there was one occasion you wish you'd never won anything then this is it' explained the shell shocked sixty year old ' I won that bloody flame thrower three weeks ago and for all that time it's just been taking up room in my garage with no obvious use. No obvious use that is until yesterday when I mistakenly thought I could clear the weeds with it'.
Dangerfield's case will be heard at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday morning where it's expected that he will have to apply for bail in order to remain at liberty until the main hearing. It's expected the amount will be set so high that Mr.Dangerfield will not be able to afford it leaving him to remain in custody until the main hearing is heard sometime in the Autumn. The strict bail conditions have been set this way after a neighbour informed the police that he overheard Mr.Dangerfield claim that he was still intending on using the rocket launcher he also won in the draw to help him rid his garden of moles.