A retired couple have been forced to flee their picture postcard village after a series of attacks by a mystery arsonist seemingly intent on taking their lives.The fourth and most recent attack on Peter and Sylvia Cox gutted their 17th-century five-bedroom home and left their beloved greyhound dead.
The couple escaped through their bedroom window after a home-made firebomb was shoved through the letterbox of the house on the village’s high street.
In what could be a storyline from countryside drama Midsomer Murders, detectives are baffled as to why former parish councillor Mr Cox, 82, and his 74-year-old wife are being targeted.
The couple are staying with relatives – too scared to return to the close-knit Lincolnshire village of Castle Bytham until the culprit is caught.
The couple were alerted to the latest incident, in the early hours of May 4, by their dog, Toby, who raised the alarm by barking as the blaze took hold.
The noise also alerted neighbours who brought a ladder from their garage, enabling the Coxes to climb to safety. Sadly, Toby was recovering from an operation and would not climb the stairs. He died in the fire, which has destroyed the roof of the £400,000 detached home.
Police have now released CCTV images of a cyclist they wish to question who was seen passing the cottage shortly before it went up in flames at around 3am.
The first attacks took place last August and October, then the next two in March this year and earlier this month – each in the small hours and involving crude petrol bombs using fireworks in glass bottles. But those thrown at the outside of their house in the first three attacks did not ignite properly.
Former accountant Mr Cox said: ‘I have no idea why someone would target us like this. Read More
