Pensioner left terrified after a deliberate fire in her Wishaw home

Detectives are appealing for information after a fire was deliberately started in an elderly woman’s home Wishaw in the early hours of Tuesday 2 April 2019.

Around 4am the 73-year old woman was asleep in the Woodstock Drive property when she was awoke by her smoke alarm.

She went into the hallway and discovered that the carpet at the front door was alight.

She managed to get out of the door and alerted a neighbour who called emergency services.

Following a joint investigation between police and fire services, the incident is being treated as wilful.

The victim has been left badly shaken by what happened and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Detective Constable Gerry Hattie from Wishaw CID: “To deliberately start a fire at the door of an elderly woman is absolutely shocking and extensive enquiries are underway to find the despicable individual or individuals involved.

“There is no apparent reason why this woman would have been targeted and thankfully she had a working smoke alarm to alert her to what was happening.

“She has been left extremely frightened and upset and I am calling on anyone who can assist us in finding out who is responsible to please come forward.

“The victim’s upper flat is accessed directly by stairs outside the property and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Woodstock Drive in the early hours of this morning, and noticed anyone hanging around or acting suspiciously, to get in touch.

“I would also urge any motorists with dashcams who were in the vicinity to check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance, such as someone running away or a car driving at excess speed.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Wishaw CID via 101, quoting incident number 0323 of Tuesday 2 April 2019. Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.''