Family’s dwelling set ablaze in horror ‘mistaken id’ arson assault in drug feud
Jody Lynam and his unidentified accomplice were acting on orders from a drug dealer when they targeted the wrong property in the bungled gangland dispute, a court has heard
The scene at the home hours after the arson attack. Inset, Jody Lynam.
An innocent family could have been killed when their home was mistakenly targeted in an arson attack linked to a gang feud.
Stuart and Claire Marsden had enjoyed an evening out together before returning home and retiring to bed just before 1am. However, they were abruptly awakened by a ‘loud crash’, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Mr Marsden went to investigate and discovered a large fire in their rented end-of-terrace house in Bury.
The couple managed to escape the inferno, but their home was severely damaged and remains uninhabitable nine months later. Their children had been staying elsewhere that night.
Police obtained footage showing Jody Lynam and another unidentified offender approaching the house around 1.40am on 18 January this year. The unknown man shattered a window before Lynam poured petrol inside.
The aftermath of the house fire and arson attack after the petrol bomb attack in January(Image: Manchester Evening News)
An ‘explosion’ ensued and the pair fled.
Lynam was apprehended after DNA from a balaclava he discarded nearby was traced back to him. Minshull Street Crown Court heard that drug addict Lynam and his accomplice were acting under orders from a drug dealer, who coerced them into targeting a rival dealer to ‘send a message’ and intimidate.
They were informed that the property would be vacant, the court heard. But it resulted in a devastating case of ‘mistaken identity’.
“This could have been multiple people killed,” a judge remarked, before handing Lynam a prison sentence of six years and nine months. Prosecutor Anthony Williams recounted how Mr Marsden yelled to his wife to get out of bed, as they rescued their dog and seized a phone to ring the emergency services.
Lynam was caught on CCTV in a blue puffer coat with a second unknown offender(Image: GMP Bury)
The fire was put out but it inflicted more than £113,000 in damage. In a statement read on his behalf, Mr Marsden stated: “I have absolutely no reason why anyone would want to do this.”
He described being left ‘traumatised’ and under ‘constant stress’. “I am constantly on edge and keep thinking my whole family could have been wiped out, for no reason at all,” he continued.
Mrs Marsden expressed: “We have lost everything. The children have lost all their Christmas stuff. It is going to take so long to build everything back up. I have done nothing to deserve this.”
The firebomded home(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
The court heard that the couple work as a social worker and a school site manager.
Lynam has accumulated 122 previous offences on his criminal record. Defence lawyer Adam Brown explained that Lynam had been in poor health prior to the arson attack, but had been discharged from hospital and subsequently developed an addiction to crack cocaine.
He said Lynam’s home had been ‘commandeered’ by drug dealers and that he was ‘highly intoxicated’ at the time of the attack. He is ‘genuinely remorseful’ and is in a ‘much better position’ than when he was first placed on remand in prison following his arrest, Mr Brown stated.
Jody Lynam of Hardfield Street, Heywood, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.(Image: GMP)
The family were initially housed in a hotel before being moved to temporary accommodation. Their home remains unfit for habitation.
“This was an extremely serious offence,” Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth informed Lynam.
Lynam, from Hardfield Street, Heywood, admitted to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
