The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Boy saves siblings from petrol bombed home
GLENROTHES: Dayle Naylor was badly burned in the attack which police are treating as attempted murder
The teenage victim of a terrifying murder bid has been hailed a hero after he dragged his brothers and sisters from their burning home.
Dayle Naylor helped pull the five youngsters from their beds, despite suffering serious burns when a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of their Glenrothes home.
The 16-year-old is still in hospital receiving treatment for the injuries sustained in Tuesday night’s attack at Adrian Road.
Another house in nearby Alexander Road was also targeted.
While no one there was hurt, it has emerged a young girl who would normally have been asleep in the bedroom that was hit had slept beside her grandmother that night.
Dayle’s uncle, John Naylor, said his whole family had been through a traumatic experience.
“They’re trying to keep it together but to me Dayle is a hero,” he said.
“He saved his family’s life by shouting the way he did and he pulled some of the kids out.
“No 16-year-old boy should have to go through that. It’s absolutely terrifying.”
Dayle was at home with mum Sarah, dad Peter McLaren and five brothers and sisters, including a baby, when the blaze broke out at 11.40pm.
The attack came just 10 minutes after Maggie Spinks, her children and grandchildren were forced to flee their home in Alexander Road.
John added: “Dayle’s got bad burns but he could have lost his life.
“The people who did this don’t realise the impact it’s going to have on the other kids’ lives. These children are traumatised.”
While the Spinks family has been able to return to their home, Sarah and Peter have lost everything and have had to seek temporary accommodation.
Shocked members of the community are rallying round to help get them back on their feet.
An appeal has been posted on the Facebook group Changing Lives On Ur Doorstep CLOUD for children’s clothes, nappies and toiletries, while a separate GoFundMe page has been posted online in a bid to raise money.
Sarah Naylor’s cousin, Laura Donaldson, thanked everyone who has donated so far.
“The response has been overwhelming and has restored my faith in humanity,” she said.
Police Scotland are treating Tuesday’s attacks as attempted murder and said they are following several positive lines of inquiry.
Officers have urged anyone who was in Alexander Road or Adrian Road at around 11.30pm to get in touch.
Meanwhile, extra community police have been deployed in the area as reassurance for residents.
He saved his family’s life by shouting the way he did and he pulled some of the kids out. JOHN NAYLOR