Darlington Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years for Petrol-Soaked Attack on Neighbours

A 31-year-old Darlington resident has been handed a lengthy extended prison sentence following a brutal home invasion in which he doused three neighbours with petrol and threatened to ignite them with a lighter. Ryan Love, convicted of aggravated burglary, wounding with intent, and assault, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to the September attack. The case has highlighted the severity of violent crime in the North East region.

The Attack

Love forced entry into a neighbours' property while wearing a balaclava and carrying two knives and a bottle of accelerant in a squeezy bottle. Upon entering the kitchen, he removed his mask, revealing a face contorted with anger that initially went unrecognised by his victims, despite knowing him for approximately 14 years. The attacker then sprayed the three people—a couple and one of their friends—with petrol while repeatedly threatening to set them ablaze.

During the prolonged assault, Love slashed one of the men across the face with a smaller blade before producing a larger knife and brandishing it at all three victims. He subsequently threw household items including ornaments and a hoover at them, and struck another male with a metal bar. One victim required surgical intervention and spent several days hospitalised following the attack. In his victim impact statement, one of the men described his attacker as a coward and revealed he now sleeps with a mattress against his bedroom door due to fear of further assault.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Prosecuting counsel Annelise Haugstad detailed how Love, of Humber Place in Darlington, had armed himself with weapons and accelerant before carrying out the violence. The defendant's defence solicitor Nick Murphy noted that Love had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, urging the judge to consider alternatives to an extended sentence. However, Judge Richard Bennett rejected this plea, declaring Love a dangerous offender and imposing a custodial term of 15 years and eight months. The court also heard that Love had a history of violence recorded on his criminal background.