Black day for victims of arsonists

Apr 22 2009 By Mark Goode, Staines News

THESE are the scenes of the devastation thought to have been caused by arsonists in Stanwell last Tuesday.

As the Herald and News reported last week, it is believed arsonists struck at a downstairs flat in Town Lane just after midnight.

The owner of the flat was away in Carlisle for the Easter break. Upon returning, the 20-year-old has spoken out about her grief.

The mother of one, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "I am devastated, I have lost everything. I don't understand why someone could do this to me. I was in the middle of decorating because I was planning to sell the house, but I don't have insurance."

She said her uncle phoned her at about 6am on Tuesday morning saying she should rush home because her house had been set alight.

She said: "I arrived at about midday and when I went into the house it was pitch black and everything was covered in soot.

"My daughter lost her posters

and toys and all her clothes. I can't send her to school next week because I can't expect a young girl to wear clothes covered in soot."

Her back window was also smashed and there are bullet marks on the front windows caused, detectives believe, by an air rifle.

Investigators are treating the fire as suspicious and believe the fire was caused by someone putting a lit piece of paper through the PVC door of the flat.

Fifteen firefighters from Egham, Sunbury and Staines spent 10 minutes putting out the fire, but the smoke billowing from the door caused extensive damage to the property.

The woman said: "I have managed to salvage my TV and radio by wiping them down and my daughter's goldfish survived, but I can't live here.

"I've had to take everything to the dump. My life has been ruined."

To make matters worse, the woman's £200 digital camera was stolen from the damaged house the night after the fire. [25a0] Anyone who witnessed either incident should call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference SL/09/2949.