£10,000 reward for information about spate of fires in Greenock

A £10,000 reward has been offered for information on a spate of deliberate fires in Inverclyde that left one man dead and a mother seriously burnt.

Crimestoppers Scotland is appealing for help over the incidents, which happened over a two-week period in Greenock last month.

In the first incident, a 46-year-old man died in a fire at a flat in Union Street at about 10.30am on Monday September 14.

Two days later, Police Scotland said a 40-year-old woman was seriously injured and her nine-year-old daughter left "greatly distressed'' in a second attack in Wellington Street.

Later, a stolen white Suzuki Splash vehicle thought to be linked to the incident was discovered burnt out in Skye Street.

On Saturday September 19, a 45-year-old woman and three members of her family, including her six-year-old daughter, were left shaken after a suspected petrol bomb failed to smash the window of a property in Cumberland Road.

A property in Kincaid Court was set on fire deliberately on Monday September 28, which led to residents being evacuated.

A car described as electric blue and possibly a BMW was seen in the area when the fire started.

It had been seen at about 9.50pm being driven along Ratho Street and Oakfield Terrace before two men got out and ran towards the block of flats before returning to the vehicle.

The car was then spotted on the same streets again around ten minutes later when three men were seen to get out and run towards the block of flats.

After they got back into the vehicle it headed towards East Hamilton Street.

The charity said all of the above incidents are likely to be linked though the reward is a maximum total sum capped at £10,000 and not per incident.

Angela Parker, Scotland national manager at the charity, said: "To put lives, especially children, at such risk is appalling and sickening.

"One poor man has already lost his life.

"Whoever is responsible must be stopped before someone else is harmed or killed by this reckless behaviour.''

She added: "Our charity, which is independent of police, is supporting officers by launching an urgent appeal for anonymous information about whoever is behind these attacks.

"We are also putting up a reward of up to £10,000 given the urgent nature of the investigation.

"You can talk to us by calling our UK Contact Centre which is open 24/7 on freephone 0800 555 111 or you can use our easy and secure anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

"Your information could save lives and stop more families and loved ones from suffering.''

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