A COUPLE have been left isolated after their car was destroyed by a fire which also wrecked a mother’s mobility scooter on the night of her birthday.
Shirley and Mike Garrad of Penhill have been left heartbroken after the blaze wrote off their five-year-old Nissan Qashqai, set a neighbour’s fence on fire and left disabled Shirley’s mobility scooter, which was in the boot of the blue vehicle, beyond repair.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown but the police have been informed.
The couple were alerted to the fire after they heard unexplained bangs in the early hours of Thursday, May 14 – hours after they had enjoyed a family day out with their grandchildren for Shirley’s 50th birthday.
“I woke up around 2.15 in the morning to a bang which I thought was another car or maybe our dogs,” Shirley said.
“I then heard this almighty bang and I told Mike that somebody was trying to break in.
“He looked out of the back window and said the car was on fire. I couldn’t believe it.”
Mother-of-two Shirley suffers from the spinal curvature disorder scoliosis, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia, which leaves her in constant pain and with difficulty walking.
She said the car was a lifeline to the couple.
“It’s part of our lives and a complete shock to the system. The fire has taken away my independence. I’m just exhausted by it all – I’ve had enough,” she said.
Now Shirley and husband Mike, who has diabetes, are unable to leave the house.
Shirley said: “I’m in constant pain but I could manage before.
“Now I can’t even go to the shops, Mike can’t get to work or the doctors. I just don’t understand why this happened and I feel like I’ve been punched in the back.”
The car was purchased on finance and had recently passed its MoT. Shirley said and that she believes the fire was started deliberately.
“I think someone had a hand in this. No-one else’s car was touched and the car was in perfect condition. It does make me think who would want to do something like this to us,” she said.
“I want the person who did this to realise how much they’ve affected me. I can’t go out, I’m stuck here.
“I’ve got six foot-high gates round my home but don’t feel safe anymore, not even in my own home.”
I can’t even bring myself to take the dogs out for a walk and that’s something I enjoyed.”
The car will be taken for analysis by the insurance company for analysis with the couple facing the costs of replacing the £12,000 vehicle and £450 scooter. Now their daughter Tracey, 30, has launched an fundraising appeal for her parents after seeing the emotional impact the fire has had on them.
She said: “Mum has managed to have a few laughs but she’s been crying on and off. The person who did this has taken everything away from both my parents and caused so much stress for them.”
A Wiltshire Fire Service spokesman said: “We were called to Penhill at 2.39am on May 14. One crew from Stratton attended and found a Nissan Qashqai well alight. The fire had also damaged a fence panel of a property.
“Two breathing apparatus wearers used one hose reel jet to extinguish, and police were in attendance as the fire was believed to have been started deliberately. We left the scene at 3.35am.”
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said : “As the cause of the fire is unknown and we have no further evidence in relation to the cause, we are unable to continue our investigations at this stage.
“However if new evidence comes to light then we will continue looking into this.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. To donate to the couple visit www.gofundme.com/umtgvc.
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