Detectives have issued a fresh plea for information about a family man murdered in an arson attack on his home three years ago.

Investigators are convinced there are people in the community who hold the key to tracking the killer of James Tomlin, who died after he escaped from his home in Windhill, Shipley.

Flammable material was poured through the letterbox or under the front door and set alight to start a fire at his house in Prospect Grove.

The 36-year-old engineer, his pregnant girlfriend and young children were asleep upstairs at the time.

Mr Tomlin tried to escape by leaping out of a rear window but suffered severe injuries. He was pronounced dead as a result of smoke inhalation at Bradford Royal Infirmary a short time later.

His partner, Sonia Chadwick, now 29, and sons Scott, and Dominic, now nine and seven, were rescued by firefighters.

The blaze was so ferocious that every window was broken and plastic guttering melted at the back of the house. Police described it as a “malicious act”.

They said Mr Tomlin had a close-knit group of friends in the area but were concerned they were reluctant to come forward with information.

Three months later, Miss Chadwick gave birth to Mr Tomlin’s son, Jamie.

Speaking yesterday, Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Three years have now passed. We are convinced that someone in the community knows who is responsible for this attack. Perhaps now that person may feel more comfortable coming forward.

“The lives of a whole family were put at risk and three young boys have been left without their father and they need to know why. If you have any information about this fire then do the right thing and please contact us.”

Police sealed off the area for fire investigation officers to examine the scene in the wake of the tragic fire. They made door-to-door enquiries and a tearful Miss Chadwick appeared at a press conference days afterwards to urge anyone who knew anything to contact police.

She was unable to speak because of voice problems caused by smoke inhalation from the blaze. A prepared statement, read out by her mother Beverley Chadwick, said: “For ten years now, James has been my partner, my soulmate and my world. He had plenty of love and time for the two boys. As a daddy, nobody could fault him. We all love and miss James so much and always will.” She said she had expected to die before firefighters burst into the room where she was trapped.

A man and woman from Windhill were questioned by police about the fire but no one has been charged for the murder and no motive for the attack has been uncovered.

Speaking again, a year on from the attack, Beverley Chadwick said: “The police know someone out there must have the last piece we need to convict whoever did this and see justice done. It doesn’t matter how small the piece of information is, it could be the missing bit.”

Anyone with any information about the fire which happened at about 4.40am on Monday, August 15, 2005, should contact the Incident Room on (01274) 373700 or Crimestoppers, anonymously and in confidence, on 0800 555 111.