Funfair Worker Started Devastating Fire Then Faked a Seizure When Arrested

A teenager who barricaded himself inside his room and started a fire that caused £130,000 worth of damage has been locked up after an 11‑month spree of threatening, violent and chaotic offending.

Jack Gornall, 18, carried out a string of incidents across Carmarthenshire and beyond — including sending abusive messages to his sister, threatening someone with a kitchen knife, assaulting shop staff, and repeatedly faking seizures when arrested, even being airlifted to hospital on one occasion.

Swansea Crown Court heard the offending began in October 2024, when Gornall bombarded his sister in Blackburn with abusive calls, calling her a “whore” and threatening to report her to social services. When she blocked him, he turned to Facebook, sending more disturbing messages — including contacting her children and telling one he would burn their house down.

He was arrested but answered “no comment” and was released.

Knife threat in Llandysul

In January 2025, Gornall confronted a man he knew in Llandysul, pulling a kitchen knife from his hoodie and waving it through a car window, “millimetres” from the victim’s head. Police drew Tasers as he ignored commands, before he suddenly pretended to have a seizure. Paramedics took him to hospital, where doctors concluded he was faking.

Again, he was interviewed and released.

Shoplifting and bridge incident

In October 2025, Gornall stole two bottles of Stella from Lidl in Carmarthen. When challenged, he became aggressive, shoving staff and members of the public before fleeing.

Police were then diverted to a nearby bridge, where Gornall was found standing on the wrong side of the railings. Officers and paramedics pulled him to safety — at which point he again pretended to have a seizure.

Devastating fire at supported accommodation

The most serious incident happened just after midnight on November 17, 2025, at supported accommodation on Mansel Street, Carmarthen.

Gornall barricaded himself inside his room and started a fire. As flames spread, he escaped by jumping out of a window, with a witness seeing him “hanging by his fingertips” before dropping to the street below.

Police officers entered the burning building to evacuate residents and tried to fight the fire with extinguishers, but were forced back by heat and smoke.

When spoken to, Gornall claimed he didn’t know how the fire started — then once again pretended to have a seizure. He was taken to hospital, then airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales due to concerns about his fall and supposed fit. Doctors later discharged him.

A search of his phone revealed internet searches including “cheap petrol cans” and “what’s more flammable than petrol?”, though no petrol was used in the blaze.

The fire caused £130,000 in damage to the charity‑run accommodation and forced vulnerable young residents to relocate, losing personal belongings in the process.

Court outcome

Gornall, now of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to:

- Sending malicious communications  

- Threatening a person with a knife  

- Assault by beating  

- Shoplifting  

- Arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered  

He was already under a community order for criminal damage after throwing bottles at passing cars.

His barrister said he had grown up without a father figure, struggled after moving to Wales, fell in with negative influences and turned to alcohol following his mother’s death. He had worked in funfairs and landscaping and wanted to “turn the page”.

Judge Catherine Richards said that although he may not have intended to endanger lives, that is exactly what he did.

Gornall was sentenced to four years’ detention in a young offenders institution. He will serve 40% of the term in custody before being released on licence. His existing community order was revoked.