Campaign to help ex-marine whose home was destroyed in fire ‘after standing up to yobs’
21 March 2021, 09:03 | Updated: 21 March 2021, 09:14
A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a former Royal Marine whose home was destroyed after he made a stand against anti-social behaviour.
Over £134,000 has so far been raised for teacher Sean Ivey after his bungalow in Wingate, County Durham was set alight by yobs as they slept in a suspected arson attack.
Mr Ivey, who served in 45 Commando, said he and his wife and two children, aged seven and five, were "almost murdered" when their home was set alight while they slept on Wednesday.
A second blaze at the property at around 1am on Friday was also being treated as arson, police have said.
Two men have been arrested and Durham Police issued a 48-hour dispersal order in the area.
During the first incident, Mr Ivey shared a video of his car and caravan ablaze and a fire crew attending.
The fire spread to his home, which was not insured because he had forgotten to renew the policy.
Mr Ivey, who grew up in Wingate and returned after serving in the Marines, said his home had been targeted because he had spoken out after a series of yobbish incidents in the former pit village.
In a Facebook post after the initial fire, he said: "We're good standing members of the community and now, because I spoke out against anti social behaviour my 5 year old boy, 7 year old girl, wife and myself were almost murdered whilst asleep.
"I want people to know that not enough is being done to curb anti social behaviour.
"People are not being held accountable or responsible.
"Help me to help you and everyone else who are becoming victims of the poison that lives in our local communities."
On Wednesday, hours before the arson attack, Mr Ivey posted on social media that his parents had been robbed when four men burst into their home.
He also said he had a run-in at the weekend with a young biker "riding like a lunatic" and saw another in the main street of the former mining village pulling wheelies and mounting the paths.
He called out groups of "young lads" seen riding quad bikes, and gangs gathering outside a local takeaway.
He wrote: "Something really has to change!!!
"I don't know how and I do not know what we can do but I think it's time that the people, the good people of our communities, got together and come up with some ideas to hopefully get rid of these thugs and clean up our streets."
Keith Miller, who set up the fundraising page, wrote: "I served with Sean at 45 Commando and he is a man of exceptional character with integrity and humility."
Durham Police said a dispersal order is in place over the weekend, meaning anyone failing to leave the area when asked will face arrest.
Inspector Emma Kay said: "Thankfully nobody was inside the property at the time of the incident, but the fire has understandably had a huge impact on the family and the wider community.
"I would like to reassure residents that a number of additional officers, PCSOs and staff are currently patrolling the area on foot, bikes and in cars and will be actively carrying out a number of enquiries as we move into the night and over the coming weeks."
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
