A Wallsend scaffolding company has posted a £1,000 reward for information after three of their vehicles were destroyed in what appears to be a targeted arson attack near Hadrian Road Metro station on Saturday evening.
Newman Scaffold, a family-run business operating from a yard on Hadrian Road, suffered significant damage when three vehicles were set ablaze at approximately 8pm on Saturday, August 23. The firm’s director, Matthew Newman, and his wife Jennifer Cooper-Newman were out for the evening when they received an emergency call about the fire.
“It was about eight o’clock. My husband had a phone call from another guy who has a place on the yard saying there’s a fire,” Jennifer Cooper-Newman told ChronicleLive. “We were actually out so we jumped in a taxi over there straightaway.”
The couple arrived to find the yard packed with emergency services, including three fire engines from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service responding to the blaze. The scale of the response reflected the severity of the incident, which left three company vehicles burned beyond recognition.
Vehicles ‘Doused in Petrol’ in Targeted Attack
The devastation at the specific area of the yard suggested this was no accident. Jennifer Cooper-Newman stated the evidence pointed to a deliberate act of arson.
“It had been targeted, [the vehicles] looked to have been doused in petrol,” she explained, adding that Northumbria Police are now conducting a full investigation into the incident.
The destroyed vehicles included the firm’s largest HGV, which was essential for their biggest construction jobs, a transit van used for daily operations, and a seven-seater vehicle used by employees to transport staff to and from job sites across the region.
The financial impact extends beyond just the vehicles themselves. Tools and equipment stored in the vehicles were also destroyed, with Jennifer noting: “You can see in the pictures that there are even melted drills.”
Family Business Left Baffled by Attack
The attack has left the family-run business searching for answers, with no clear motive for why they were targeted. The incident has created immediate operational challenges for Newman Scaffold, which now faces disruption to its services in the coming days as it works to replace the destroyed vehicles.
“It’s caused a significant amount of damage, in terms of money too,” Jennifer Cooper-Newman said. “We are a family business but someone out there thinks this is okay.”
The emotional impact on the family is evident, with Jennifer expressing both worry and determination: “It’s worrying. We have no idea why this could have happened.”
£1,000 Reward Offered for Information
In a bid to catch those responsible, Newman Scaffold has offered a substantial reward for information leading to the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“So we have put a reward up – £1,000 – obviously only if someone is able to prove who it was,” Jennifer explained. “People talk.”
The company has posted details about the reward and images of the damage on its Facebook page, which also contains information on how to contact them with any relevant information.
Jennifer Cooper-Newman was clear about their determination to see justice done: “We just want to see them caught.”
Police Investigation Underway
Northumbria Police have launched a full investigation into the incident, which occurred at around 8pm on Saturday, August 23. Officers are treating the fire as suspected arson and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The crime reference number for the incident is 1100 of August 23. Anyone with information is urged to contact Northumbria Police on 101, quoting this reference number.
The location of the yard, near the busy Hadrian Road Metro station in Wallsend, means there may have been witnesses in the area at the time of the attack. The Metro station, which serves the town of Wallsend in North Tyneside, is a major transport hub with regular foot traffic, particularly on Saturday evenings.
Impact on Local Business Community
The attack on Newman Scaffold highlights concerns about crime targeting local businesses in the North Tyneside area. The yard’s location on Hadrian Road places it in an industrial area near significant local landmarks, including the Metro station that has served the community since 1982.
Wallsend, with its rich industrial heritage dating back to shipbuilding and coal mining, has seen many family businesses like Newman Scaffold contribute to the local economy. The attack on such a business has resonated with the local community, who have rallied around the company on social media.
The incident also raises questions about security for businesses operating from industrial yards in the area, particularly those storing valuable vehicles and equipment essential to their operations.
As the investigation continues, Newman Scaffold faces the immediate challenge of maintaining their services whilst replacing the destroyed vehicles. The company’s plea for information reflects not just a desire for justice, but a need to understand why their family business was targeted in such a destructive manner.
Anyone who was in the Hadrian Road area around 8pm on Saturday evening and saw anything suspicious is urged to contact either Newman Scaffold directly through their Facebook page or Northumbria Police on 101, quoting reference 1100 of August 23.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
