£250k arson attack on taxi tycoon’s firm
Multi-millionaire owner reveals police warned business could be targeted
A controversial private hire boss yesterday blasted thugs who burnt out part of his brand-new fleet of taxis.
Stevie Malcolm claimed his staff’s lives were put at risk when arsonists caused £250,000 worth of damage.
They torched f ive 2017- plate Mercedes V- Class vehicles, which cost about £50,000 each, at the headquarters of Penny Cars in Chapelhall, Lanarkshire, just after midnight yesterday.
Nobody was injured in the blaze but the office had to be evacuated while firefighters tackled the flames.
Malcolm, who owns a string of private hire f irms, said he had been warned by Police Scotland two months ago that his business was in danger of being targeted.
Sources said the businessman had upset rival firms by offering their drivers one-off payments of up to £1000 to work for him.
Malcolm said: “My main concern is for staff who had to be evacuated due to the callous act that endangered their lives while working in the building last night. “Five vehicles were badly damaged. “To be clear, we offer new drivers incentives to join us and drive brand-new vehicles to assist our growing fleet of over 300 cars and accommodate the demand from our customers.
“These claims of ‘poaching’ are from jealous competitors with substandard vehicles.”
He added: “Only two months ago, police informed us that they had legitimate intelligence to suggest that our cars in the car park would be deliberately targeted and set on fire.
“Thankfully, and most importantly, no member of staff was hurt.”
One source said at least one rival local taxi operator had lost half of their drivers to Penny Cars.
The insider said: “Other firms just can’t afford to advertise at the level Malcolm is doing.
“He’s taken about 100 cars from a competitor already this year.
“Drivers have been offered £1000 to go and work for Penny Cars – it’s hard for them to say no.
“There’s been a lot of heavy advertising in the past six months and there are guys who face losing their businesses due to the number of drivers he’s taken off them. “They just can’t compete.” Malcolm, who once owned tanning salons, is one of Scotland’s richest businessmen with an estimated fortune of at least £50million.
Last month, the Sunday Mail revealed how the businessman bought KeyCars in Rutherglen to add to his portfolio of private hire firms.
The firm had close links with crime boss Steven “Bonzo” Daniel, who was mutilated in a gangland machete attack in May. Malcolm was also pictured leaving a meeting with Daniel and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in November 2014.
Malcolm distanced himsel f from any association with Daniel, pointing out that being linked with a gangster could jeopardise lucrative taxi contracts he has with schools and the elderly.
A police spokeswoman confirmed they were called to the fire in Woodhall Street at around 12.15am yesterday.
She added: “Following a joint investigation between police and fire services, the incident is being treated as wilful. Inquiries are continuing.”
These claims of ‘poaching’ are from jealous competitors with substandard vehicles