On June 25, 2024, a senseless act of violence forever altered the lives of a Wolverhampton family. 26 year old Dale Francis and Daniel Tatters, 37, both from Stoke-on-Trent, were responsible for a deliberate arson attack that killed 26-year-old Akashdeep Singh and left his mother with life-changing injuries.
The fire, described as an act of “pure evil,” was set at the Singh family home on Plascom Road, East Park, Wolverhampton. After a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the two men were sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 34 and 36 years, respectively, for murder, arson with intent to endanger life, and three counts of attempted murder.
Mr Justice Wall, presiding over the case, condemned the pair for their “appalling criminality,” which not only ended a young man’s life but also left his family grappling with unimaginable trauma.
The Horrific Arson Attack
The arson attack that claimed Akashdeep Singh’s life was a calculated and brutal act. On the night of June 24, 2024, the Singh family had been discussing a forthcoming trip to India, filled with anticipation for their shared future. As they went to bed, they could not have imagined the nightmare that awaited.
In the early hours of June 25, Daniel Tatters was captured on CCTV footage approaching the family’s home. He smashed and removed a bay window, poured petrol into the living room, and set it alight with a lighter. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the room and filling the house with smoke and heat.
Akashdeep Singh, who was upstairs at the time, was trapped by the fire. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he succumbed to his injuries in hospital just hours later. His mother, also caught in the blaze, suffered catastrophic injuries that required nearly three months in intensive care and resulted in the amputation of part of her leg.
The severity of her condition was such that she needed 35 minutes of CPR at the scene before she could be transported to hospital. The fire not only devastated the Singh family but also endangered the lives of neighbors and the firefighters who risked their own safety to rescue those trapped inside.
The court heard that Dale Francis played a critical role as the driver and lookout during the attack. While Tatters carried out the act of setting the fire, Francis facilitated the crime by ensuring their escape and keeping watch for potential witnesses. The prosecution, led by Mark Heywood KC, presented compelling evidence, including the CCTV footage that clearly showed Tatters’ actions.
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The deliberate nature of the attack, combined with the use of petrol to accelerate the fire, underscored the defendants’ intent to cause maximum harm. Mr Justice Wall noted during sentencing that he was certain both men intended to kill anyone inside the house, regardless of their identities.
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A particularly haunting aspect of the case was the possibility that the Singh family’s home was not the intended target. The judge acknowledged that he could not definitively determine whether Tatters and Francis had “identified the wrong house,” but the prosecution argued that the fire was meant for someone else.
This chilling detail only deepened the tragedy, as it suggested that Akashdeep and his family were innocent victims caught in a violent act intended for others. The randomness of their suffering amplified the cruelty of the crime, leaving the family and the community grappling with the senselessness of it all.
The Trial and Sentencing
The three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court was a meticulous examination of the events leading to Akashdeep Singh’s death. The prosecution presented a robust case, supported by CCTV evidence, forensic analysis, and witness testimonies. Jurors deliberated for over nine hours before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts on charges of murder, arson with intent to endanger life, and three counts of attempted murder.
The evidence was overwhelming, particularly the security camera footage that captured Tatters’ actions in stark detail. Francis’s role as an accomplice was equally substantiated, with evidence showing his involvement in planning and executing the attack.
During the sentencing on Thursday, Mr Justice Wall addressed Tatters and Francis directly, condemning their actions as “appalling criminality” that had a “catastrophic” effect on the Singh family. He highlighted the profound trauma inflicted on the surviving family members, noting that they were “all traumatised by the death of Akashdeep Singh.”
The judge also acknowledged the bravery of the firefighters who entered the burning home to rescue the victims, as well as the risks posed to neighbors by the rapidly spreading fire. While whole life sentences were considered due to the severity of the crime, the judge ultimately decided against them, opting instead for life imprisonment with substantial minimum terms.
Daniel Tatters, of no fixed address, was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years, while Dale Francis, of Clare Street, Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, received a minimum term of 36 years. These lengthy sentences reflect the gravity of their actions and the devastating consequences for the Singh family.
The judge’s remarks during sentencing underscored the deliberate and malicious nature of the attack, emphasizing that the defendants’ intent was to kill, regardless of who was inside the home. The convictions and sentences brought a measure of justice to the Singh family, but as their victim impact statement revealed, the pain of their loss remains immeasurable.
The Lasting Impact on the Singh Family
The Singh family’s victim impact statement, read to the court by prosecutor Mark Heywood KC, painted a heart-wrenching picture of the devastation caused by the fire. They described the incident as an act of “pure evil” that had turned their lives to ashes within minutes.
The family emphasized that they were a “normal family” with no apparent enemies or reasons for anyone to wish them harm. The realization that the attack may have been intended for someone else only deepened their sense of injustice and grief. Akashdeep, described as a “happy, loving, and innocent” soul, had dreams of marriage and children—dreams that were cruelly snatched away by the actions of Tatters and Francis.
The family’s statement detailed the profound loss they felt, describing a “void that will never be filled” in the wake of Akashdeep’s death. His mother’s life-changing injuries added another layer of tragedy, as she endured months in intensive care and the loss of part of her leg.
The physical and emotional scars left by the fire will linger for a lifetime, a constant reminder of the horrors they experienced. The family spoke of waking to “horrors that are unimaginable and difficult to describe,” a stark contrast to the hopeful conversations about their upcoming trip to India just hours before the attack.
The community of Wolverhampton has also been deeply affected by this tragedy. The senseless loss of a young life and the suffering of an innocent family have left residents grappling with shock and sorrow. The bravery of the emergency services, particularly the firefighters who risked their lives, has been a source of solace, but it cannot erase the pain of this preventable tragedy.
The Singh family’s statement concluded with a poignant reflection on the enduring consequences of the fire: “We will have to live with the consequences of this fire forever.” Their words serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of such acts of violence and the ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate victims.
The arson attack perpetrated by Daniel Tatters and Dale Francis was a heinous act that tore apart the lives of the Singh family and shook the Wolverhampton community. The deliberate and malicious nature of the crime, coupled with the possibility that it targeted the wrong house, underscores the senselessness of the violence.
Akashdeep Singh’s death and his mother’s life-altering injuries are a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of such acts. The convictions and life sentences handed down at Wolverhampton Crown Court provide a measure of justice, but they cannot undo the pain and loss experienced by the Singh family.
As they navigate their grief and the long road to healing, their story serves as a call for reflection on the consequences of violence and the importance of fostering safer, more compassionate communities.
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