AN ANONYMOUS donor has gifted a Solihull family a new mobility scooter after theirs was torched by a hooded arsonist – leaving two disabled people with no transport.
As we reported, shocking footage captures the huge inferno which the Shaylor family says could have spread to the house.
The attacker appeared to target the family’s £1,600 mobility scooter which was reduced to ash in the blaze.
The scooter was used by disabled mother-of-six Kirsty Shaylor, 45, and her 75-year-old mother, Sandy Shaylor.
Ms Shaylor usually lives at home with her partner, her sons – Kian, 15, and Alfie, 5 – and her dog and two cats.
But last week a generous resident phoned The Observer to offer their mobility scooter to the family for free.
Kirsty told us: “We could never express how grateful we are that there are such kind-hearted people out there.
“Mum is now smiling again.
“The scooter enables us to go shopping together again and mum to be able to come round to mine like she always did.
“And it enables me to get Alfie to school in September. The scooter is truly a lifeline.
“But I haven’t recovered. I still have nightmares. I just want to move away – yet I have lived in this area all my life.
“I don’t feel safe and have still not seen the police.”
Kirsty last month told us she could not sleep and was too scared to return to her home in Melton Avenue in the Lyndon area, after staying with her mother.
The terrifying arson attack happened in the early hours of July 18 and West Midlands Police is still appealing for information.
The footage shows the hooded arsonist creeping on to the drive, then appearing to douse the scooter in liquid.
As the porch light comes on the drive is engulfed in flames – as is the arsonist who manages to escape.
But aside from the cost of a few repairs to the new scooter’s wheels, and with support from other donors, Kirsty and her mum are able to travel again without pain or discomfort.
Ms Shaylor suffers from fibromyalgia – a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body – and her mum has long-term health problems and seriously restricted mobility.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire is believed to have been started deliberately.”
Anyone with information should contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight or call 101 anytime, quoting 20SH/170312B/19.
