Eastbourne house fire murders: Jacob Barnard denies involvement

Jacob Barnard is on trial alongside Andrew Milne over the deaths of Gina Ingles, 34, and her four-year-old son Milo Ingles-Bailey at their home in Eastbourne.

The duo are also accused of the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett, who escaped the house fire in Croxden Way with serious burns.

Prosecutors say Barnard’s DNA was found on a cigarette lighter at the scene while Milne’s DNA was found on a petrol can used to pour petrol into the home.

But at Brighton Crown Court, Lewis Power QC spoke about unanswered questions about who carried out the arson in July 2018.

Brighton Magistrates Court

It was revealed that Barnard, a drug-dealer and car dealer, was jailed for eight years for his activities in Portugal.

Meanwhile it is claimed that Milne was his “enforcer” over drug debts here in the UK, including for Toby Jarrett, who owed £400 to dealer John Sanders who in turn owed cash to Barnard.

Addressing the jury, Mr Power said it was “not an open and shut case”.

He said his client “makes no bones” of the fact he is a drug dealer, but denies being present at Croxden Way, or having any involvement in the incident.

Barnard said he has never come across Toby Jarrett before.

Read more about the prosecution's case:

• Mum and young son 'killed over partner's drugs debt'

• Eastbourne murder trial defendants face claims of leading drugs underworld operation

Mr Power said the case has raised unsettling questions about the “pernicious and perilous” road taken by drug dealers and said: “We have seen that the underbelly of society that deals in drugs is a murky world indeed.”

He said police had ruled out a man named Gregory Beeden, who ran Drink Stop in Hastings, despite the fact Mr Beeden’s DNA was apparently also on the cigarette lighter found at the scene.

Mr Power pointed the finger at Mr Beeden, and suggested he could well have been in the dock himself for the murders, claiming he used the drinks delivery business as a front for class A drug dealing.

Footage showed flames rising from the home in Croxden Way, Eastbourne

He also alluded to an alleged incident where it was claimed Mr Beeden had brandished a petrol can and threatened to torch vehicles belonging to engineers during a row in Hastings.

Mr Power said: “Gregory Beeden had links to the drugs world and a link to Toby Jarrett who was a cocaine user.

“The prosecution are at great pains to eliminate Gregory Beeden from the inquiry, but he will cause you great concern.

“Throughout the evidence in this case he has been like a ghost coming back from the past. Just like a bad penny, he always turns up.”

He said Mr Beeden had “gaps and inconsistencies” in his testimony and alibi for the evening of July 9 to July 10.

The scene of the fire in Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Mr Beeden had also employed Barnard’s mother Vanessa after the incident, which Mr Power suggested was to keep an eye on what was happening in the case.

“It’s the old adage, keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer,” Mr Power said.

Prosecutors say Joshua Sherwood received a confession from Barnard that he and Milne were going to a home in Eastbourne to make threats in order to enforce a drug debt.

But Mr Power said Mr Sherwood is “bolstered by greed and self-interest” in trying to take over Barnard’s drugs operation from Portugal to the UK.

He said that Toby Jarrett was “robbing Peter to pay Paul” and had enemies within the drug dealing world, naming Sean Abraham for turning up to Mr Jarrett’s old workplace in Crowborough threatening to stamp on Mr Jarrett’s head.

Chris Jansen, whose dog was being looked after by Gina and Toby, was also named by Mr Power as someone to whom Mr Jarrett owed cash.

Ricky Boswell, whose DNA was found on the petrol can at the scene, was also named by the barrister.

Gina Ingles and her son Milo Ingles-Bailey were killed, while Toby Jarrett suffered serious burns and injuries but escaped

“The drug deals were not just overwhelming him, they were overtaking him,” Mr Power said. “He owed money to multiple drug dealers.”

Mr Power said there was no evidence that Barnard or Milne travelled to Eastbourne that night.

A black Mercedes owned by Barnard was spotted on ANPR going towards Eastbourne before the fire, and returning to Hastings in the minutes after, prosecutors said.

But Mr Power said there are “too many gaps and too many uncertainties” in the prosecution’s case, and asked the jury to find his client not guilty.

The scene of the fire in Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

John Tabakis, 30, of Hastings, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by driving the vehicle to Portugal to be sold after the crime, a charge Tabakis denies.

Barnard, of Eastbourne and of Portugal, denies two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Milne, of Hastings denies denies two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.

The trial continues.

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