Dramatic moment mum and 11-year-old son’s home is petrol bombed as they slept – but cops say there’s not enough evidence
TERRIFYING CCTV shows the petrol bombing of a car and house – while the occupants were inside.
The car and front door to the house were left blackened and smouldering in the attack.
And mum Laura Coupland, 39, and her son Lincoln-Jay, 11, have had to leave the property in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, in the aftermath.
Footage shows a car surrounded by flames while a man stands and watches the fire unfold.
Police attended the incident but says the investigation was closed due to a lack of evidence.
Laura, who has since moved to a new home, said: “Me, my son and dogs were in that house asleep at the time.
“My son was too scared to go back – it’s had quite a big effect on us both.
“I nearly had a nervous breakdown over it all and became very depressed. It’s affected my son too, he’s become quite angry about it.
“The fire damaged the house and wrecked everything.”
Laura says the attack, which happened in July 2023, has upended their lives and says they lost everything as the fire caused smoke damage through the three-bed house.
She claims two petrol bombs were thrown – one at her car and one at her front door.
And she says they had to live in temporary accommodation before the council could offer them a new home.
Despite moving into a new property in October 2023, Laura says as they’ve been moved out of their local area her son now has to attend a new school.
She says she’s frustrated by the response from police as no arrests were made.
“It was frustrating because it’s serious – I was so angry, I was fuming,” said Laura.
“I’m hoping the video might appeal to someone’s conscience.
“We lost everything, our home and car, my son was meant to go to a local school but obviously that all changed.
“Luckily our neighbour had a hose and put the front door fire and the car out until the fire brigade arrived.
“Above the front door was a gas boiler so we’re very lucky it wasn’t worse.”
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “We can confirm we attended this incident at Hemswell Cliff on 11 July 2023.
“We provided what support we could however, there was not enough evidence to proceed further with an investigation.”