She suffered burns to her face, neck and hand as a result of the arson attack and fears that she could be left scarred for life
Police on Clifton Road East in Tuebrook after a caravan went up in flames (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
A mum ran into her burning house to save her son, cats and bearded dragons after an arson attack. Carl Dawe torched a caravan outside the property in the early hours in a drunken rage, with the fire then spreading to three homes and a car.
This led to a woman who he was having an affair with suffering burns to her face, neck and hand, which could leave her scarred for life. He now says that he “lost the plot” during what was labelled a “moment of madness in a meltdown”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that Dawe was in a relationship but had been having an affair with Jacqueline Spencer. However, there was said to have been a “degree of animosity” between the two of them, relating to her friendship with neighbour Alison Hunt.
Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how Dawe and Ms Spencer were drinking at her home on Clifton Road East in Tuebrook on the evening of September 6 this year, but added: “They appear to have had an argument about a fridge freezer in Ms Spencer’s address. Ms Spencer wanted to take food to Alison Hunt’s house so that it wasn’t spoiled. She did that at some point. People were congregating at Alison Hunt’s home and having some drinks.”
In the early hours of September 7, with Ms Spencer by now among those drinking at Ms Hunt’s address, Dawe attended the property and was allowed entry, but told the homeowner “f*** you” before “leaving immediately”. She then noticed that the windows of her caravan, which was parked outside, had been smashed, with CCTV subsequently revealing that the 52-year-old defendant, of nearby Gloucester Road North, had caused this damage by punching the glass.
Mr Hopkins added: “Ms Spencer would say that the defendant was jealous of her friendship of Ms Hunt, and that she was round there that evening and he wasn’t invited. As he walked away, he said ‘ha, look what I’ve done’ after he had smashed the windows.
“The crown would say that the motive for causing the damage is likely to be due to some problem that the defendant had that night, perhaps compounded by his intoxication, with the friendship, rather than a general animosity towards caravans over some traumatic childhood incident. He would be around damaging caravans all the time, wouldn’t he?”
Shortly after 3.30am, cameras then captured Dawe returning to the scene and setting fire to the caravan before walking away, having apparently used a cigarette lighter to ignite the curtains. The mobile home, which Ms Hunt had previously purchased for £800, was destroyed as a result, as was an attached trailer belonging to her brother.
This led to a gas cannister inside the caravan exploding, resulting in a “pretty ferocious fire” which spread to the front door and windows of Ms Spencer’s home. Mr Hopkins said of her: “What happened, which is quite remarkable, is that she went back into the house when there was a fire there.
“Her 14-year-old son and pets were inside. The curtains in the living room were on fire. She was able to alert her son, who came downstairs. She attended to her animals and left. She suffered blistering to her hands and face.”
The fire was also said to have caused damage to two other neighbouring properties on both Clifton Road East and Gloucester Road, as well as to a nearby parked car. Dawe was subsequently arrested in Newsham Park later the same morning.
Mr Hopkins added: “The defendant was obviously, it would appear, severely intoxicated. Several people were endangered. One was injured significantly. He caused a lot of damage.”
Carl Dawe, of Gloucester Road North, aged 52(Image: Merseyside Police)
In a statement which was read out to the court on Ms Spencer’s behalf, she detailed how the incident “put her son, pet cats and bearded dragons in serious and life threatening danger” and added: “I can’t come to terms with the disregard he had for me and my family. It has left me heartbroken.”
Ms Spencer also stated that she suffered first and second degree burns on the left hand side of her face and neck, as well as to her left hand, leaving her in “unbearable pain for weeks”. She fears that she will be left permanently scarred as a result, and said: “I used to be a social and approachable person. Now, I find thinking about leaving my house a huge challenge.
“I now find it hard to trust anyone. He has messed my head up so much. I have become so terrified of the wide world. I don’t know if I will ever be the same person. I find being a normal human being a challenge.”
Ms Hunt meanwhile outlined in her own statement how she had only purchased the caravan weeks a matter of earlier in order to “enjoy family holidays”, saying: “More importantly, the kids have been left seriously affected. My eight-year-old son refuses to do anything by himself any more. He’s had his youthful spirit taken away from him.
“I feel it will be difficult for them to trust others for a long time. I’ve been left absolutely horrified by his behaviour and fearing for my kids’ future.”
Dawe has a total of seven previous convictions for 16 offences. Carmel Wilde, defending told the court: “He is clearly putting his time in custody to better use and trying to rehabilitate himself. He has written letters of apology.
“This was undoubtedly a shocking experience for those involved. The defendant, in his words, says that he lost the plot. He wishes to convey that he is very sorry. It was a moment of madness in a meltdown in his mental health. He has expressed his remorse.
“He is mortified at the consequences. He says that he did not intend to cause such harm. It is fortunate that the fire did not spread any further. He was clearly on a decline in his mental health and was drinking. That, perhaps, affected rational thinking. He was going through a bad time during the offending.
“He is somebody who was working and had a good job in construction. He was head of logistics on a construction site at Aintree Hospital. Following that contract, he struggled to find employment.
“He has no previous convictions since 2014. It is certainly a downfall from someone who was in a very good job and relationships. Certainly, some of it is his own doing, having an affair. It is perhaps behaviour that is out of character at this sort of seriousness.
“He is complying in prison, trying to address any drug or alcohol issues. He is keeping himself fit and healthy, seeking to turn his life around. Perhaps it is a massive wakeup call for him to do so.”
Dawe admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and four counts of criminal damage. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, he was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “It is clear that you were in a bad temper and under the influence of alcohol as a result of events that occurred earlier that evening. The fire took hold quickly and burned furiously.
“It is important to understand the consequences of what you did. You completely gutted the caravan. That is the direct consequence of setting it on fire. You also damaged the trailer attached to it.
“You caused damage to the windows of Simon Smith’s house nearby, and you caused damage to a car. There was also some damage to another property on that road, belonging to Victoria Smith.
“More significant was the damage to the home of Jacqueline Spencer. The fire took place in that house when her 14-year-old son and some pets were inside. So concerned was she for their safety that she went back into the burning house.
“As a result, she suffered burns to her face, neck and hand on the left side of her body. She fears being scarred for the rest of her life. In addition, there has been psychological and emotional upheaval and continuing anxiety suffered by her children.
“What you did had wide ranging and long lasting consequences. They could have been much worse. If she had not gone back inside, her son may not have escaped from the burning house.
“Although you have previous convictions, there is nothing since 2014 and nothing remotely as serious as this. I accept that you suffer from anxiety and depression, and you were going through a stressful period of your life.
“Some of it was entirely your own doing, but there is certainly nothing in the material before me that suggests your culpability was in any way reduced as a result of your anxiety and depression. I accept that you are now remorseful for what you have done and will make good use of your time in custody.”