Every so often something happens that makes you question the thinking and actions of certain members of the human race.
Reports that a disabled man being thrown from a vehicle as they stole the van (containing lots of vintage music equipment) and then set fire to it, were posted to our Facebook wall last night.
The story starts on Saturday night when Loris Valvona, a band member of ‘The Mechanx’ helped provide the entertainment at a 60th birthday celebration in The Blacksheep Bar in Union Street, Ryde.
Packing up gear
A great night was had by all, says Loris, and come 12.30am once most people had left the venue to head home, the band set about packing up their gear.
Loris said, “the process of loading was going quite slowly…there were steep stairs involved and we are not exactly in our prime! Dave, our guitarist, is disabled, so he stays in the van and packs the gear as it is brought out.”
Fast getaway
What happened next was both shocking and unbelievable, Loris says, “I had just handed him some equipment, when all of a sudden the front door of the van slammed shut, the engine started and it began to move!
“We shouted, but it happened so quickly that poor Dave was thrown out of the side door and landed in a heap on the road. I shouted for help and within seconds the door staff and the rest of the band were there.”
Dave was taken to St Mary’s hospital and although he hurt his back, thankfully suffered no serious injuries.
Van destroyed by fire
The van was later found parked by the lock up garages on the Binstead estate, “between the Broadway and Jellicoe Road,” says Loris, totally burnt out along with all the equipment that had already been loaded.
Among the items lost were a 1974 Premier kit, two rare Laney 100 watt valve amps and a 1970’s 100 watt Marshall top, all treasured possessions had been part of their lives for nearly 40 years.
The Island’s Fire service tell us that they received a report of a fire in Jellicoe Road at 1:41am early Sunday morning. One car and a van were ablaze. They judged the fire to have been started deliberately. They finished at 2:13.
We expect a Police appeal will be issued in due course, but for the moment, if you hear anything, please get in touch with Police on 101, or the Crimestoppers charity, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
