‘We feel violated’: Family left devastated as car set on fire outside home in Northamptonshire village

The incident is being treated as arson as a CCTV shows a male appearing to approach the car with a petrol can
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A family has been left devastated after their car was set alight and burnt to the ground outside their Northamptonshire home.

Justin Kirk, who lives in Weedon Bec with his wife and two children, was at home at around midnight on Thursday (March 4) when their 2007 Honda Civic was set alight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The blaze was put out and nobody was hurt, but the family has been left car-less and are keen to track down the culprit as the incident is being treated as arson.

Justin Kirk's family car was set alight outside their home on March 4.Justin Kirk's family car was set alight outside their home on March 4.
Justin Kirk's family car was set alight outside their home on March 4.

The culprit was caught on several neighbour’s CCTV cameras, which show a male walk up to the car with what is suspected to be a petrol can, before running away when the car catches fire.

Justin, who is 37, said: “It all happened within a couple of minutes, but I was just thinking ‘cars don’t just burst into flames.’

“I had no idea at the time that it was an arson attack.

“We moved from Northampton after our garage was broken into in Briar Hill as I lost £10,000 in 20 minutes, so the kids already have anxiety about this sort of stuff.

The family has now been left car-less.The family has now been left car-less.
The family has now been left car-less.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve been in Weedon for three years and we felt safe and content with amazing neighbours.

“Now our safe haven has been encroached and violated by this person. It’s horrible.

“The kids are now asking if they will come back. We’re saying no but we don’t know because we don’t know who they are or why they were here.”

Justin works as a self-employed courier and is currently only taking home around 30 percent of his usual wage due to the pandemic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He also says the money offered by the insurance company will not replace the car ‘like for like’.

Following on from the incident, the family has been astonished by the community spirit of the village as they have been inundated with offers of help, with some people even asking if they would set up an online fundraiser so they could donate to replace the car.

Justin said: “It has been the hardest year of my adult life.

“A few people suggested a GoFundMe, but I was brought up to sort ourselves out and I really wasn’t sure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But then more and more people asked so I thought we would give it a go.

“I can’t get my head around strangers giving me money because I have been unlucky, but they have.

“The community spirit through this has been amazing and I have never known anything like it in my life.

“I am proud as punch to be a resident of Weedon village.”

So far, more than £1,000 has been raised to help Justin and his family replace their car.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokeswoman from Northamptonshire Police confirmed the force is treating the incident as an arson attack.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police on 101.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper while out for your essential shopping.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you