An army veteran endured traumatic flashbacks reminiscent of a petrol bomb attack from his time in service after his neighbor deliberately set his garden gazebo alight, mere feet from where he was relaxing in a hot tub. This shocking act of arson has deeply affected Dennis Coles, bringing back distressing memories.
Fiery Attack Triggers War Zone Memories
Wayne Loughman, 52, pleaded guilty to arson at Teeside Crown Court following the intentional blaze in Mr. Coles' garden in Stockton-on-Tees. Mr. Coles, 66, was enjoying his hot tub on May 11 when Loughman, claiming disturbance from noise, threw a lit rag over the fence, igniting the gazebo. The incident immediately triggered severe flashbacks for Mr. Coles, recalling a petrol bomb attack he experienced while serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles of the 1980s.
"I was petrified," Mr. Coles recounted. "I was sitting in the hot tub, which is in a shed, relaxing at the end of the day. All of a sudden, I glanced out of the window and to my horror, the roof of the gazebo was on fire." He expressed grave concern that had the fire spread to his nearby shed, the outcome could have been fatal.