A SUCCESSFUL driving instructor believes jealousy could have led to her car being petrol bombed – using an Irn Bru bottle.
Linda Gavin, from Kirkcaldy, Fife woke up last night to find fire engines and neighbours circling around her blazing instructor car, worth around £10,000.
The firestarter had smashed the rear window of the Ford Fiesta with a brick before throwing in a makeshift petrol bomb, burning the whole interior – and her client list – to a crisp.
Linda, 48, a instructor of eight years, now fears that jealous rivals could be behind the crime due to her booming business and eight month waiting list.
The mother-of-two said: “I’m in shock. I don’t have the foggiest who could have done this.
“It might have been a random attack or it could be jealousy.
“I’ve got a successful business with a long waiting list.
“As far as I was aware, I don’t have any enemies but who knows now.”
Linda and her husband, Mark, 47, were asleep when nearby neighbours spotted the car in flames.
Her two sons, Jason, 19 and Dean, 22, are both in shock over the incident and had cars parked next to the Fiesta that were not targeted.
Linda said: “I was in bed sleeping when I heard someone chapping my door and people shouting hello.
“My son heard it as well and then shouted the car was on fire.
“My bedroom is at the back of the house so didn’t hear it straight away.
“I heard a bang after that and looked out.
“Fire engines and neighbours were already there.
“My son’s car sat alongside mine and all the plastics are all melted from the heat.
“I’ve not heard of anything like this going on in the area and it’s a wee crescent where I live so you usually have to be coming in there on purpose.
“I’m devastated, I just can’t believe it but the CID are involved now and police are looking into so hopefully we find out who did it.”
The business’ Facebook page, Linda’s Learners is full of photographs of thank you cards, flowers and chocolates from grateful clients who have had lessons.
On hearing the news, Sheryn Potts wrote: “That is shocking, absolute scum of the earth.
“Chin up Linda they will catch them.”
Gail Dryburgh said: “That’s awful Linda.
“Hope you get back on the road soon. Excellent driving instructor.”
And Alistair Murray wrote: “Unbelievable. This is my street too, never even seen a thing Awful.”
The upbeat instructor has vowed not to let this affect her business and has already arranged a hire car to get back to work tomorrow.
Linda added: “I will be back to my lessons tomorrow, It will just be the one day off.
“What can you do, you just have to get on with it.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Police in Fife were called to Hendry Crescent in Kirkcaldy around 11.30pm on Wednesday (April 13) following a report of a car alight.
“A Ford Fiesta was subject to an act of wilful fireraising, and a Mini Cooper parked nearby was also damaged as a result.
“Officers would urge anyone with information about this to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
