Arson victim tells of grudge attack fear

Jul 19 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

A MAN claimed yesterday he is the victim of a vendetta after he had a lucky escape from serious injury when his home was badly damaged in a suspected arson attack.

John Dryden, 63, was dozing in bed when a fierce blaze broke out in the living room of his council house in Ingram Drive, Blyth, Northumberland early yesterday.

He was woken up by a bang but didn’t realise he was in any danger until a neighbour knocked on his door and told him the house was ablaze.

Mr Dryden, who is retired and lives alone, managed to get downstairs and out of the house safely, and the blaze was put out by firefighters who had been alerted by neighbours.

The fire left his living room wrecked and the rest of the house badly smoke damaged. It is believed it was started by some form of accelerant thrown through the window.

Yesterday Northumbria Police appealed for help to trace a hooded man seen running away from the house at the time. The worrying incident comes less than a month after Mr Dryden had his front windows deliberately smashed by an unknown attacker. Yesterday, as he worked on clearing the charred wreckage of his living room, he said: “Somebody has got a grudge against me and now they are trying to fire me out.”

His daughter Carol Dryden, 30, said: “Someone is obviously targeting him. He has had a few little upsets with people but we don’t know why anyone would want to endanger his life. Whoever did this has known he was in the property, because his vehicles were outside.

“He has never upset anyone enough for them to do something like this. The police have said they are looking at a possible life sentence if caught because it is arson and attempted murder.”

Next door neighbour Alan Davison, 72, was watching TV when another neighbour banged on his door and alerted him to the fire. “When I went outside it was raging and flames were coming out of the living room. I stood well away and saw John Dryden standing in his pyjamas and bare feet.

“It is just a few weeks ago he had his windows smashed and they were replaced by the council. It is very worrying, because the fire could have spread to other properties.”

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Inquiries are in their early stages but the fire was started maliciously.

“We are keen to trace a man running away from the scene. The only description is that he is around 5ft 10in to six feet tall, of stocky build, wearing black trousers and a black hooded top.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blyth CID on 03456 043 043.