Two men have been jailed over a deliberate arson attack that claimed the life of 36-year-old Daniel Gardner at his flat in Birmingham.
Daniel Gardner died after Stephen Dale and Tyler Phythian poured petrol over the entrance to his flat on Saxons Way in Highters Heath before setting it alight shortly after midnight on September 19. Trapped inside by the rapidly spreading fire, Gardner was unable to escape and later died from his injuries.
Stephen Dale, 47, was in a relationship with Gardner’s former partner at the time of the attack. Although the relationship had ended, Gardner and his ex-partner remained in regular contact because they shared two children.
Investigators found that Dale viewed Gardner as a “significant problem” and decided to act. He persuaded his friend and neighbour, Tyler Phythian, 18, to accompany him. The pair travelled by taxi to a petrol station on Shirley High Street, filled a petrol can, returned to the Highters Heath area, and walked to Gardner’s flat.
CCTV footage captured a large flash as the fire ignited before showing both men fleeing the scene. Phythian was seen carrying the petrol can while one of Dale’s feet caught fire during the escape. The blaze was so intense that a neighbouring property’s front door also caught fire.
The day after the fatal fire, Dale denied any involvement when speaking to his partner, telling her, “This was nothing to do with me.” He also asked her to let him listen while police updated her about the investigation so he could learn what detectives knew.
Before his arrest, Phythian reportedly 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 were convicted of arson with intent, while Dale was also found guilty of manslaughter.
At Birmingham Crown Court, Dale was sentenced to 24 years in prison, while Phythian received a four-year prison sentence.
Detective Inspector Ade George, who led the investigation, described the incident as “a cowardly attack on a man in his own home in the middle of the night,” adding that it had left two children without their father. He said extensive CCTV analysis and witness evidence were instrumental in securing the convictions and praised the investigative team for bringing those responsible to justice.
Following Gardner’s death, his family paid tribute to him, describing their grief as “unbearable” and remembering him as a loving man who “gave everything and never expected anything in return.” They said they hoped to find the strength to carry on while continuing to cherish his memory.
