Bishop Auckland man to stand trial on arson and shooting charges

Iain Boddy appeared at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday (April 28) by video link from HMP Holme House, in Stockton, where he is on remand.

He is charged with offences of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, relating to a single shot fired at the targeted property, and arson with intent to endanger life, in allegedly starting a fire in the house garden at the same address, in Front Street, Burnhope, at 5.15pm on Friday December 5 last year.

The fire was confined to the garden before being put out and no-one was injured.

Case of Bishop Auckland man accused over two arson and a shooting incident in December, 2025, will be heard at a Durham Crown Court trial, in September this year (Image: The Northern Echo)

A further charge of attempting to commit arson with intent to endanger life relates to a bid to start a fire at an address in Broomhill, Stanley, at 9pm on December 25.

As with the incident in early December, no-one was injured.

The 43-year-old defendant of Moule Crescent, Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland, pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

A case timetable was agreed, leading to a trial of up to four days at the court, in September.

The prosecution is to serve its evidence by May 20, with the defendant’s signed defence statement to be submitted by June 17.

A start date for the trial was agreed for Monday September 7, as it must be heard prior to September 29, which is the six-month time limit to detain the defendant, who was remanded to remain in custody in the meantime.