Mum’s arson hell
THIS is the moment a masked arsonist set a car on fire before fleeing the scene.
CCTV footage shows a hooded individual with his face covered by a scarf approach a Seat Ibiza on Scotby Gardens, Gateshead, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Within seconds the Seat Ibiza is engulfed in a fireball as the arsonist flees.
Terrified car owner and mum-of-one Katie Smart was woken at about 5.20am by firefighters “thumping” on her front door.
She said: “I looked out my window and saw the fire engine and my car up in flames. I was in shock; it didn’t seem real.”
The flames from Katie’s car were so strong, both the Seat Ibiza and a nextdoor neighbour’s vehicle were written off. Barber Katie managed to calm her panicked seven-year-old son Dean McCallum and get him back into bed before police officers arrived.
Katie, 26, said: “It makes no sense at all, I think that’s the scary part.
“There’s someone out there who wants to harm me and my son. A child should not have to witness this.
“I’m not that sort of person, I’m a normal girl. I don’t go around upsetting anyone to do that to my car.
“I’m really scared, I’ve been thinking is it going to be something through my letterbox or window next.
“My son has asked me to stop speaking about it as he’s so scared.”
Katie posted the shocking CCTV footage of the arson attack on Facebook on Sunday morning, and the clip has already racked up more than 1,100 shares.
She added: “I’ve been absolutely amazed at how many people have been really supportive.
“I was scared to put it on Facebook at first.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At 5.31am on Saturday, police received a report of a car fire on Scotby Gardens, Gateshead.
“Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished. Nobody was injured. Police are treating the incident as suspected arson.
“Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 255 101118 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “A crew from Washington Community Fire Station attended a car fire on Saturday 10 November at Scotby Gardens in Gateshead. The call was received at 5:08am and the crew left the incident at 5:50am. The Police were requested to attend.”