Born Peter George Dinsdale in 1960, Britain’s most prolific serial killer of modern times was the son of a prostitute and afflicted from birth with epilepsy, partial paralysis, and a deformed right arm. Until the age of three, he lived with his maternal grandmother, afterward joining his mother and her common-law husband until their relationship disintegrated. Until the age of 16, Dinsdale attended a school for the physically handicapped and was there introduced to homosexual practices that, in the words of his prosecutors, “eventually led to his downfall and discovery.” At age 19, Dinsdale legally changed his name to Bruce Lee, in emulation of the kung fu movie star he idolized. A classic pyromaniac, Lee would explain in his confessions that a tingling in his fingers signaled him that it was time to light a fire. His first act of arson, at age nine, caused more than $30,000 damage to a shopping center. Lee’s normal technique involved dumping paraffin through a mail slot, followed by a match to light the fuel. Lee scored his first fatality in June of 1973. On January 5, 1977, 11 elderly men were killed and six rescuers injured when he torched a nursing home. Slapped by an old man in an altercation over Lee’s disturbing some pigeons, Bruce threatened to kill his assailant. Later, the birds were all found with their necks wrung, and the man was burned to death in his armchair at home. The death was ruled an accident until, years later, Lee confessed that he had found the man asleep and set his clothes afire with paraffin. In 1980, a house fire on Selby Street in Hull killed Edith Hastie and her three sons. Police found paper soaked in paraffin near the front door, but the Hasties were so unpopular with their neighbors that everyone in the vicinity was suspected. Some 18,000 persons were questioned before police discovered that Charles Hastie, one of the victims, was acquainted with various homosexuals who patronized public restrooms near his home. A group of suspects was rounded up, including Lee, who confessed to a series of fires spanning the past 11 years. In all, 26 persons had died by his hand, and multiple manslaughter charges were filed. Pleading guilty on all counts, Lee was sentenced to an indefinite term in a mental hospital. As his prosecutor remarked, “The sad fact is that this is his only real accomplishment in life, and something he had expressed himself as being proud of.” Lee described his motive more compellingly. “I am devoted to fire,” he said. “Fire is my master, and that is why I cause these fires.”





