Bruce Lee, Serial Arsonist

Bruce George Peter Lee was born in Manchester in 1960. His given name at birth was Peter Dinsdale. Dinsdale altered his name to reflect his admiration for Bruce Lee, the martial arts expert and movie star. Bruce Lee, arsonist, is known to be one of Britain’s more dangerous killers, doing away with 26 people by the time of his capture and conviction in 1981. His victims number more than any other convicted killer in British history.

Lee was born to a prostitute and had a limp and spastic disability in his right arm. He was raised in children’s homes. The fired he started were random in nature, as he admitted to a love of fire. A few of his fires were set for revenge, but most held no consideration from Lee as to the possibility that someone could be harmed.

The first case of deliberate fire setting for purpose of revenge was in 1979 when he set the home of a mate on fire killing Charles, Peter, and Paul Hastie. Lee, 19, and Charles Hastie, 15, had engaged in mutual illegal indecent conduct and Charles attempted to blackmail Lee. Charles threatened to go to the authorities unless Lee paid him. Another point of contention for Lee regarding the Hastie family was that Charles’ sister, Angeleena, 16, had refused Lee’s advances. Angeleena and two other sisters were not at home when the fire occurred.

When police questioned Lee (he volunteered for questioning) he not only admitted to pouring paraffin in the Hasties’ letterbox, he confessed to setting nine fires over the course of seven years in which 23 more had died. All of those fires were deemed misadventures, not suspicious, and no one suspected arson.

Lee’s first fire was set in 1973 when he was just 13 years of age. A 6-year old schoolmate’s home was the target and all in the home escaped except the young boy, Richard Ellerington.

Four months later in October of 1973, Lee set 2 fatal blazes. The first one killed a 72-year-old recluse. Lee poured paraffin into the lounge area and flames trapped Bernard Smythe. The cause was thought to be the paraffin heaters Mr. Smythe was using, as his electric service had been shut off. One of the heaters had been knocked over, leading the authorities to their conclusion.

David Brewer, 34, was killed when he was set afire while asleep on his mother’s settee. Lee admitted that Mr. Brewer had argued with him a few days before, and the man struck young Lee. The authorities believed at the time of the incident that the fire was accidentally set by items close to the fireplace. Mr. Brewer was found burning by a neighbour who covered him in wet towels, but Brewer died in hospital eight days afterwards.

Another vengeful fire was set in 1977 when Lee was 17. A local family shared his interest in raising pigeons, but did not appreciate Lee’s habit of walking into their home without invitation. Shortly after a falling out with this family, Lee set fire to their home killing their 6-month old daughter, Katrina Thacker.

Beyond the three fires Lee set for revenge, the other fires were set for his pleasure alone. There was no desire on his part to harm anyone in these fires, thus the media has not portrayed him as a dangerous killer and his name is rarely mentioned. Lee is currently housed at the Rampton Secure Hospital with no specific date for release.