Devastated
Couple’s horror over late night arson attack
A teenage boy has been arrested after a late night arson attack on a pensioner’s house.
Home owner Robin Verkely watched in shock as flames ripped through the property in Shepway on Saturday.
Luckily, the 70-year-old was asleep at fiancee Elizabeth Stephenson’s house a few doors away when the blaze broke out in a first-floor bedroom. Miss Stephenson said: “We got there to see flames absolutely chucking out, they must have been 6 ft long. The velocity of it was shocking.”
Mr Verkely, who has fought his way back to health after suffering a stroke, lost all his clothes in the fire, as well as irreplaceable and sentimental items.
A pensioner could do nothing but watch in horror as his home went up in flames following an arson attack.
Home owner Robin Verkely, 70, was with fiancee Elizabeth Stephenson, who lives just a few doors away in Shepway, when the alarm was raised by a neighbour, shortly before 11pm on Saturday.
Police have arrested a 15-yearold boy in connection with the blaze, which took hold in a firstfloor bedroom of the house in Sussex Road.
Miss Stephenson, 52, said the fire has devastated their lives.
The carer added: “We were sleeping at the time. We were woken up by a guy at the door, saying ‘your house is on fire.’
“We got there to see flames absolutely chucking out, they must have been 6ft. The velocity of it was shocking.
“All we could do was stand by and watch. Robin’s lost so many irreplaceable things that go back years. It has devastated us.”
It took firefighters more than half an hour to bring the blaze under control.
The following morning a cordon had been placed around the property and police were standing guard while forensics officers gathered evidence.
Charred furniture and belongings were abandoned on the front lawn and the windows were boarded up.
Mr Verkely is now waiting for emergency housing and the pair are not allowed back to the property to begin the clean-up while the police investigation takes place.
The teenager has been released on bail, pending further enquiries, until Wednesday, August 24.
Mum-of-four Miss Stephenson added: “Ever since it happened I’ve been scared.
“I’ve had all the doors locked and I haven’t been able to sleep. I’m just so thankful we weren’t there at the time.”