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Jilted Willenhall arsonist wanted revenge on ex but we may never know why pensioner was killed

Police today welcomed the guilty verdict handed down to arsonist Aiden Elmore but admitted they still do not why he started the fire that claimed innocent pensioner Victor Moore's life.

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He had been looking for revenge on the girlfriend who had dumped him when he went on his deadly arson spree – but had no obvious motive for starting the fire in Southey Close, Short Heath, which ended in tragedy.

Elmore set fire to a wheelie-bin barricade at the back exit of the block of flats in Southey Close, trapping Mr Moore and other residents as flames swept through the maisonettes.

One resident described the heat as being like that 'on top of a bonfire' while fire investigators estimated at its peak the blaze started in the early hours of October 8 last year was burning at between 800 and 1,000 degrees centigrade.

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Investigators know the 21-year-old was looking to get back at ex-girlfriend Lauren Wellings as he also targeted her home in Wychbold Way.

But detectives are mystified why he also started the blaze at Mr Moore's home.

Speaking after the case at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Det Sgt Mick Ross said: "Elmore had been drinking, taking drugs and was emotional after separating from his partner.

"His actions were a clear attempt to cause people serious harm: he positioned bins against doors, barring residents' likely exit route and forcing people to jump for their lives from windows.

"He did the same again in Wychbold Way where only the brave actions of police officers stopped the blaze spreading into the property; there were young children at the address and the officers' actions may well have saved more lives.

"Elmore made a determined effort to light the bins– CCTV showed him trying to light the rubbish for around 20 minutes.

"Elmore had been drinking heavily since he split with his partner nine hours before the fatal fire. It's understood vengeance over the split led him to target the home in Wychbold Way, but it's still unclear why he sparked the fire that cost Mr Moore his life."

Elmore had been spotted by police in Wychbold Way on the night of the fire holding a blazing Adidas jacket. When he spotted the officers the man fled. Lauren Wellings confirmed the jacket belonged to Elmore.

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