Nearly a decade after arsonists broke into the Tile Cross home of Birmingham dad Tony Nicholls and set off industrial-scale fireworks, no one has been brought to justice for his death. The 56-year-old former Jaguar Land Rover worker died five days after the attack in November 2017, suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation after a raging inferno spread through his home on Birchtrees Drive.
Targeted Attack Caught on CCTV
West Midlands murder detectives launched a huge manhunt following the attack, which rocked the neighbourhood. Chilling CCTV footage released last year showed the moment three attackers broke into the home, fleeing as flames engulfed the property and another firework shot across the road. The deadly firework box was thought to have contained around 200 tubes of explosives, sparking a blaze that gutted the house.
Detectives were left in little doubt that this was a targeted attack. Det Supt Jim Munro told BirminghamLive last year: "It's definitely targeted. There's no other way of describing it. Tony had his windows smashed around a week before the firework attack." He added: "From the CCTV, they are very clear on what address they are going to and get inside."
Arrests Made but No Charges
Five men aged 19-31, along with a 19-year-old woman, were previously arrested on suspicion of murder and released under investigation. Police have never been able to charge anyone. The investigation has kept an open mind about the reasons for the attack, though it was previously reported that the victim's girlfriend, who lived with him, may have faced a drugs debt. Detectives have said the motivation for the break-in was still not clear.
Family Plea for Information
Daughter Fiona Nicholls said last year: "My dad was my everything. He was funny, witty, and he worked hard all his life. The last eight years have been hell. I relive it every day. Every bonfire night, I'm anxious, it just brings back trauma of what happened to my dad. It's horrible, I live a nightmare every day. I need anyone with information to come forward. They need to do the right thing."
Det Supt Munro said at the time: "I know there are people in the area of where this took place who have information in relation to why that happened and who did it." He added: "Wives, partners, boyfriends, husbands, girlfriends, friends, associates, people who have information - I'm asking them to think of their consciences. Come forward and provide police with that information to allow us to get justice for the family."
Police continue to work on the investigation in the hope of finally cracking the case, and detectives remain committed to securing justice for Tony Nicholls' family.
