Craig Dowding, 34, left his victim Robert Eddington with full thickness burns to his face, then, just weeks later, hit him in the head with a knife
16:45, 11 Nov 2025Updated 16:46, 11 Nov 2025
Craig Dowding, 34, squirted butane gas at his neighbour’s lap and set fire to him with a lighter(Image: Gwent Police)
A butane gas canister was pierced by a knife and sprayed at a man by his violent neighbour who then set him alight for using his crack pipe. The victim suffered major burns to his body and was later hit in the head with a knife by his neighbour, causing a 15cm wound to his head.
Craig Dowding, 34, committed two horrific assaults on Robert Eddington, which left him with serious injuries including burns to 6.5% of his body. They lived near each other and became friends, but their relationship changed when the defendant took offence at the victim using his crack pipe.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, November 11, heard the two men were socialising at Mr Eddington’s home in Newport on May 14 when Dowding lost his temper and turned on the victim. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
He punched Mr Eddington dozens of times before picking up a butane gas canister and stabbing it with a knife, before squirting it at the victim’s lap.
Dowding then used a lighter and set fire to Mr Eddington’s hands and face.
The victim was taken to Grange University Hospital for treatment for full thickness burns to the right side of his forehead, his right eye socket, the right side of his mouth and cheek.
There were also burns to Mr Eddington’s nose and redness to his upper chest wall. He had blisters on his left wrist and his thumbs and fingers.
Despite being at a high risk of developing complications, the victim discharged himself from hospital against the advice of hospital staff.
Then, on June 9, both Dowding and Mr Eddington went to a mutual friend’s home to watch a Wales football match but the defendant had been drinking and became abusive towards the victim.
Prosecutor Heath Edwards said Dowding picked up a knife block and threw a knife at Mr Eddington, before picking up a large knife and hitting him over the head with it with considerable force.
Mr Eddington immediately felt pain and saw blood streaming down his face.
After the defendant calmed down, they watched the football match and Mr Eddington cleaned himself up in the bathroom, but when his friends saw his injuries they called the police.
He was again taken to hospital and was found to have suffered a 15cm wound to the left side of his head and bruises to his left cheek. The victim lost a total of 1000ml of blood and suffered a broken nose and a fractured jaw.
Dowding, of Greene Close, Newport, later pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent and arson. The court heard he had previous convictions for violence, racially aggravated assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and robbery.
In mitigation, Sophie Keegan said her client was also a vulnerable man and suffered with mental health issues. The barrister said the defendant had tried to put his time on remand in custody to good use.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: “The pain must have been absolutely agonising and the fear he was in must have been absolutely terrifying… What you did was not an accident at all…
“The violence you used was gratuitous and extreme and could have led to the death of your victim on both occasions.”
Dowding was found to be a dangerous offender and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of five years.
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