Police offer £5,000 reward to find suspect in arson that killed a father

Police are hunting a teenager over an arson that burned a father to death in his home after his door was forced open and fireworks thrown inside.

Ronan Blake, 18, is wanted for questioning seven months after Anthony Nicholls, 56, died in hospital and his girlfriend Marie was badly injured.

Crimestoppers offered a £5,000 reward for information about Blake’s location, believed to be in Sheldon, Birmingham, that would lead to his capture.

Crimestoppers offered a £5,000 reward for information about Blake's (pictured) location, believed to be in Sheldon, Birmingham, that would lead to his capture

Ronan Blake, 18, (right) is wanted for questioning seven months after Anthony Nicholls, 56, (left) died in hospital in November 

The box of 200 fireworks was set off as the couple enjoyed a Chinese takeaway at his house in Tile Cross, Birmingham, about 11.20pm on November 2.

Neighbours claimed Mr Nicholls desperately tried to smash windows so that he and his partner could escape the flames which left the walls blackened and a TV melted.

The former Land Rover worker was rushed to hospital with 60 per cent burns and placed in an induced coma after the blaze ravaged his property, but didn’t survive.

Marie, 50, escaped with fractures to her lower limbs after jumping from a first floor window of the £150,000 house.

The former hardware store worker was rushed to hospital with 60 per cent burns and placed in an induced coma after the blaze ravaged his property

The former hardware store worker was rushed to hospital with 60 per cent burns and placed in an induced coma after the blaze ravaged his property

This picture of a blackened staircase inside the property shows the devastation caused by the commercial firework 

This picture of a blackened staircase inside the property shows the devastation caused by the commercial firework 

‘This was such a thoughtless, heartless act carried out, and Anthony’s family deserve some answers as to why he was taken away from them,’ Crimestoppers said. 

‘This is why I am asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ronan Blake, to contact our charity anonymously.’

Four people were arrested soon after the fire, including an 18-year-old woman in Ward End and a 21-year-old man at Shildon Airport after he arrived on a flight.

Two men, aged 29 and 22, were earlier arrested in Lee Hall and Stechford respectively.

A blue forensic tent could be seen outside the £150,000 semi-detached property on Saturday, which has been left badly damaged by the fire

A blue forensic tent could be seen outside the £150,000 semi-detached property on Saturday, which has been left badly damaged by the fire

The commercial firework was posted through the letterbox of Mr Nicholl's home in Birmingham

The commercial firework was posted through the letterbox of Mr Nicholl’s home in Birmingham

Officers believe the firework, which gutted the home’s interior, would have taken two minutes to fully discharge and are asking for help in tracing where it came from.

 ‘The impact would have been terrifying for the occupants and I would urge anyone who sold or is missing a firework of this size to get in touch,’ West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Paul Joyce said at the time.

‘This would have been a large heavy firework that would have been difficult to carry some distance, so I would ask anyone who saw someone carrying a large box in the area to contact us.’ 

Mr Nicholls’ neighbours described him as a ‘fun-loving, funny man’ who ‘worked hard all his life’. 

Mr Nicholls' partner, named as Marie, is believed to have broken both legs jumping from the bedroom window after they were awoken by the blaze on Thursday night

Mr Nicholls’ partner, named as Marie, is believed to have broken both legs jumping from the bedroom window after they were awoken by the blaze on Thursday night



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