Pensioner’s warning after arson

A Sutton pensioner is urging residents to be on their guard after her home was targeted by vandals.
Vandals set fire to wheelie bins behind Mrs Dudleys property in Sutton In AshfieldVandals set fire to wheelie bins behind Mrs Dudleys property in Sutton In Ashfield
Vandals set fire to wheelie bins behind Mrs Dudleys property in Sutton In Ashfield

Seventy-eight year-old Rosa Dudley had three bins, a shed and some fencing set alight during the attack on her Kensington Close house.

Thankfully, Ashfield District Council is replacing the three bins free of charge but she and her husband will have to pay the excess insurance charge for the damage to her neighbour’s fence.

Police were alerted to the arson when they saw flames in the garage area of the close from the nearby police station carpark in the early hours of 1st September.

Said Rosa: “I am so disgusted - we have had a lot of problems here recently with youths using the forecourts to drink and take drugs.

“Police have a patrol on but they just cannot catch them, that is the trouble.

“We are all pensioners around here in our 70s, 80s and 90s and do not move as quick as we used to. We just want people to know what is going on in this close.”

A spokesman for Ashfield District Council said: “We received a letter in June from MP Gloria De Piero regarding anti-social behaviour issues on and around Kensington Close.

“As a result of the information received, council CPOs agreed to add the area to the patrol plan for Sutton and to contact Nottinghamshire County Council in order to find out what preventative measures they could take.

“Mrs Dudley contacted the council directly on 1st September to report that her bins had been burnt out.

“A council officer contacted Mrs Dudley and informed her that we would provide her with second-hand residual and recycling bins at no cost and a new brown bin free of charge as she is a subscribed service user.

“The following week, officers attended the property to replace the bins and clear any mess that was on public land.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said house-to-house enquiries were being conducted and CCTV footage was being checked.

If you have any information which could assist police please phone 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.