Bognor man jailed for life for setting father on fire
The 60-year-old died from serious burn injuries following the attack outside his own home
A man who set a father alight in an assault outside his home in Bognor Regis has been jailed for life.
Aaron Wilks, who's 38 and of Ash Grove, will spend a minimum of 25 years behind bars for the attack on Mark Stoakes in Oak Grove on April 8th.
The 60-year-old suffered serious burn injuries and died three weeks after the attack.
Wilks was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday (December 16th), having been found guilty by a unanimous jury last Friday (December 10th).
He was also given, to be served concurrently with the life sentence, six years for blackmail, 30 months for possessing an offensive weapon, 21 months for criminal damage and 20 months for arson.
Mark Stoakes had been at home with his family on the evening of Thursday 8 April, 2021 when they noticed their garden gate was on fire.
Mark and his wife ran to the front of their house in Oak Grove to see who was responsible for starting the fire. There, they encountered Aaron Wilks.
Wilks was holding a blue bottle and began spraying a liquid towards the victim and his wife. Mark, protecting his wife, stood nearest Wilks and became drenched in liquid - a liquid later confirmed to be petrol.
Wilks then produced a flame, which ignited a fire instantly. Mark suffered extensive burns and was taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in an induced coma.
Sadly, he died from his injuries three weeks later on April 30th.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Pauline Lane has said:
"This was a horrendous and deeply distressing incident that has resulted in the tragic loss of a beloved husband, father and friend.
"Aaron Wilks attended the victim's home address on the evening of April 8 armed with an accelerant and a lighter, intent on causing harm.
"The subsequent assault was the culmination of a campaign of threatening and aggressive behaviour by Wilks towards Mark Stoakes over an apparent unpaid loan.
"We're grateful to Mark's family for their bravery and dignity throughout, and to witnesses and the wider community for supporting our investigation."