Four men from Weston-super-Mare have been locked up for a terrifying arson attack on an 82-year-old grandmother’s house in Protheroe Street, Ferndale. The attack, fuelled by a criminal vendetta linked to an organised crime group outside the UK, sparked a major fire in the early hours of July 28, 2025.
Plot to Burn House Down Uncovered
The gang included 24-year-old Connor Pitt, 19-year-olds Auryn Gustur and Alfie Wheeler, and 33-year-old Lewis Manito. Just after 11pm on July 27, Storm Truman, 19, drove Wheeler and Gustur from Western-super-Mare to Ferndale. There, Pitt joined them, having been driven by Manito in a car that was never recovered.
- The gang carried two petrol-filled jerry cans.
- Pitt, Wheeler, and Gustur were driven by Truman to Protheroe Street to carry out the attack.
- Police received the fire report at 1:25am and had all four arrested by 1:50am.
CCTV Captures Chilling Attack
CCTV footage revealed Wheeler and Pitt approaching the house with petrol cans while Gustur livestreamed the horrifying scene. The fire quickly engulfed the front of the property and nearby cars. The elderly victim, asleep downstairs, was woken by smashing glass and heard screaming as flames took hold. Neighbours and officers helped the grandmother escape safely as the attackers fled. Police evacuated nearby residents and the fire brigade declared a major incident. Damage was estimated at £650,000, affecting three properties and a car.
Swift Police Action Leads to Arrests
Officers quickly identified the fire as deliberate thanks to CCTV and seized an emergency glass-breaking hammer found near the scene. Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious white Seat Ibiza with a partial plate number just before the blaze. A roads policing officer spotted the Seat Ibiza on the A470 and stopped it using a stinger device. Inside were a machete, hammer, gloves, and a balaclava. The car’s sat nav had the victim’s address entered as a destination. Mobile phone analysis linked Lewis Manito to the attack, leading to his arrest in August 2025.
Sentences Handed Down
- Connor Pitt pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life – sentenced to 18 years.
- Auryn Gustur pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life – sentenced to 15 and a half years.
- Alfie Wheeler pleaded guilty to arson and possession of a bladed article (machete) – sentenced to 13 years.
- Lewis Manito pleaded guilty to arson recklessly endangering life and perverting the course of justice – sentenced to 9 years.
Storm Truman was found not guilty of arson.
