Vendetta fear as house is torched

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 27th Jan 2006.

A MAN lucky to be alive after arsonists torched his first-floor flat believes he is the victim of a vendetta.

Anthony Whatley, 42, and his uncle Ron Whatley, 58, were rescued by firefighters from a flat in Milton Avenue, Melksham, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Former youth worker Anthony said this was not the first time he had been targeted and believes false rumours were to blame for the arson attack on his home.

"I don't know why, but someone has it in for me round here," he said.

"Because I've done a lot of youth work I keep in contact with a number of youngsters, so it has led to all sorts of false rumours being spread about me.

"I've lived here for two years and now I'm just sick of the place and don't want to come back."

The fire brigade were alerted to the blaze by 15-year-old Stuart James, also of Milton Avenue, who was on his way to a party at about midnight when he noticed that the front door to the flat was engulfed in flames.

A wheelie bin had been jammed against the door and set alight.

Mr Whatley said: "If Stuart had not rung the fire brigade when he did I would be dead, I was very lucky to get out alive."

After dialling 999, Mr James tried to kick the burning bin away from the front door, but the flames had already taken hold.

Mr Whatley said he was woken up by Stuart's calls and realised there was no chance of escaping through his front door, as most the flat was engulfed in smoke and flames.

"When I realised I couldn't get out of the front door, I shut myself in my bedroom, opened the window, and stuck my head out so I could breathe away from the smoke," he said.

"My uncle, who was in the next room, was still asleep at this point." Firefighters had to use breathing apparatus to enter the flat and lead the two men to safety.

Both were taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath suffering from smoke inhalation, but were discharged on Sunday morning.

But Mr Whatley's cat Leo was not so lucky and was injured as he tried to run through the flames. He may have to be put down because of the extent of his injuries.

Det Con Alan Hardman, who is leading the investigation into the arson, said the two men could easily have been killed.

"I've no doubt in my mind that if the lad had not been able to alert the fire brigade, they would be dead," he said.

A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on police bail. An investigation has been launched and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

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