Three sentenced over Grimsby car park arson which left cars destroyed

Five vehicles were set on fire

Gladding / Maddison / Mills
Author: Natalia AntoniwPublished 15th Jul 2026
Last updated 15th Jul 2026

Three men have been sentenced for their roles in an arson attack that destroyed five vehicles outside a block of flats in Grimsby.

The fires happened in the early hours of 14 October 2025 in a car park on Barmouth Drive.

There were no reported injuries.

Prison sentences handed down

35-year-old Jason Gladding, of Columbus Way in Grimsby, has been jailed for eight years and four months after admitting arson.

38-year-old David Maddison, of Beeson Street, has been jailed three years and nine months after also pleading guilty to arson.

42-year-old Gary Mills, of Beeson Street, has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

A fourth man, 39-year-old Matthew Somerfield, of no fixed address, admitted assisting an offender. He's due to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on 31 July.

Planned attack

Humberside Police said the attack was planned in advance.

Investigators say two men were seen on CCTV pouring petrol over the vehicles before setting them alight and driving away.

Gary Mills was caught attempting to sell the car after the incident.

All four men initially denied being involved but later pleaded guilty.

Detective Constable Emma Barnard said: “This was a targeted attack which caused unnecessary fear amongst the community, and it was very lucky that no innocent bystanders or members of the public were injured as a result."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.