"If I can't have my stuff, no-one can"
That was John Cartwright's explanation for torching a £35,000 removal van full of his own possessions. The 65 year old doused the vehicle in petrol in broad daylight outside his home in St Dennis, Cornwall, before setting it alight, as reported by
Cornwall Live.
Cartwright faces a long prison sentence for his actions, which were apparently committed in anger at having his property repossessed on February 15. He then calmly waited for the police to arrive on the scene and arrest him with a cup of tea in hand.
Movecorp were the company in the process of taking the man's belongings and had to write off the van, damaged beyond repair, at a loss of £34, 874. The value of the contents inside remains unknown because everything was burnt to a crisp.
Cartwright pleaded guilt to one count of arson whilst in court on Friday (May 4) and is set to face a long prison sentence as well as a compensation claim from the removal company, who had to send four of its workers home because they were so shaken by the incident.
