DARREN SMITH'S DEVASTATING ARSON AND HARASSMENT SPREE IN BIDEFORD

In November 2019, a disturbing series of events unfolded in Bideford involving Darren Smith, a 40-year-old man whose actions left a trail of destruction and fear. Smith, a van driver residing on Honestone Street, orchestrated a malicious campaign aimed at his former partner, which culminated in a devastating house fire and a series of harrowing threats.

Smith's motives appeared rooted in a desire to manipulate and control his ex-girlfriend, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship spanning four and a half years. Their relationship officially ended in April of that year, but Smith's obsession persisted. Upon discovering she had started dating someone new, he devised an elaborate scheme to make her believe they were both under attack by a mysterious gang of assailants. His goal was to coerce her into rekindling their relationship, either out of a need for protection or sympathy.

To achieve this, Smith staged a series of frightening incidents designed to terrify his ex and her three children. He slashed the tires of her car, threw a large rock through a double-glazed kitchen window while the family was watching children's TV, and sent her menacing death threats claiming they originated from her new partner’s jealous accomplice. These threats, which included messages like, “Did you enjoy your night? Your ex (Smith) has one week to live, then we are coming for your son before we come for you,” were sent via an unregistered phone, but police later traced the device to Smith, who was seen topping up the phone at a local Bideford shop.

Adding to the chaos, Smith falsely claimed to neighbors that he had been assaulted by masked intruders and that his house had been attacked by unknown assailants. CCTV footage, however, contradicted his account, showing no one near his property at the time of the fire. Investigations revealed that Smith had purchased a can of petrol earlier that day, and forensic evidence confirmed his DNA on a glove found near the burnt-out container. The fire, which caused approximately £100,000 in damages, was deliberately set and resulted in the tragic rescue of a seven-year-old girl and her pet tortoise. Members of a local choir, en route to a nearby pub, noticed the blaze and responded swiftly. One member drove their Range Rover onto the pavement and climbed onto the roof of the building to rescue the girl and her pet through a first-floor window.

The campaign of terror intensified in the days following the fire. Smith's actions included throwing a large rock through the victim’s kitchen window again, causing her and her children to barricade themselves in their bedroom out of fear of intruders. The next morning, she received a threatening text message, which she believed to be genuine, further heightening her terror. The message warned her of imminent danger to her and her children, claiming it was retribution for her alleged infidelity. The police recovered CCTV footage showing Smith purchasing petrol and topping up his phone at a local Bideford shop, linking him directly to the threats and arson.

Following these events, the victim was so frightened that she blocked her letterbox and front door to prevent further harassment. Her children, deeply distressed by the ordeal, insisted on sleeping with her for weeks afterward. Smith’s actions culminated in his arrest and subsequent court proceedings. He admitted to charges of arson, harassment, and making threats to kill. At Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans sentenced him to five years and five months in prison. The judge also issued a restraining order, prohibiting Smith from contacting the victim and from returning to the area near Winkleigh where she resides.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Evans condemned Smith’s manipulative behavior, stating, “You were trying to scare the victim into allowing you back in her life, something you wanted and she did not. You were using these fabricated incidents in an attempt to manipulate her attitude towards you. The threat that was sent to her revealed clearly your motivation in wanting her to spend more time with you out of sympathy or fear for her safety. Your behavior amounted to a manipulative attempt to control at a time when she was self-pityingly frustrated and the way she was living her life without you was legitimate. You were jealous and moody.”

Prosecutor Miss Kelly Scrivener explained that Smith’s relationship with the victim was tumultuous, with frequent breakups and reconciliations. The harassment began shortly after their separation, triggered by his discovery that she had gone on a first date with another man. During the 12-day hate campaign, Smith even impersonated the man’s outraged wife, further escalating the intimidation. His injuries from a supposed attack by masked assailants were later confirmed to be self-inflicted, and police found no evidence of any intruders at the time of the fire. The incident caused significant damage and trauma, with the fire alone causing around £100,000 worth of destruction and leaving the young girl and her family in a state of terror and distress.