Ex-marine feels 'let down' after five men arrested in connection with Wingate fires are released without further action

Police have confirmed that five people arrested on suspicion of arson following two fires in Wingate which destroyed an ex marine’s home, car and caravan have been released with no further action.
By Georgina Cutler
Published 25th May 2021, 04:55 BST
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Sean Ivey says he feels ‘frustrated’ and ‘heartbroken’ after five men who were arrested in association with two suspected arson attacks on his family home have been released.

The dad’s house, car and caravan were set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning, 18 March while the family were asleep inside property.

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A second fire broke out at the property just 24 hours later on Friday, March 19.

Sean Ivey outside his home in Wingate which was destroyed in two suspected arson attacks.Sean Ivey outside his home in Wingate which was destroyed in two suspected arson attacks.
Sean Ivey outside his home in Wingate which was destroyed in two suspected arson attacks.

Following the incidents two men were arrested on suspicion of arson before being released on bail and one, a 25-year-old from Houghton-le-Spring, was charged with an unrelated offence of handling stolen goods.

On Sunday, March 21 four people were then arrested in connection with ‘recent criminal activity’ in the Wingate area before three were released on police bail and a fourth was recalled to prison for an unrelated matter.

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Sean said: “The whole point of speaking out was because people shouldn’t have to live in fear and now they have all been released, how are people supposed to feel safe?

A car, house and caravan were set alight in the suspected arson attack in Wingate.A car, house and caravan were set alight in the suspected arson attack in Wingate.
A car, house and caravan were set alight in the suspected arson attack in Wingate.
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"I feel let down and frustrated because there’s nothing I can do and it breaks my heart.”

Police presence in the village was stepped up on Friday, March 19 as a dispersal order was put in place following the two suspected arson attacks.

Sean said: “There’s not enough deterrent in this country to stop people committing crime and they aren’t dealt with appropriately – I have lost faith in this system.

"A lot of it starts from small things like anti-social behaviour and I think the community, schools, police and parents need to come together to stop this.”

A caravan was damaged in the first suspected arson attack.A caravan was damaged in the first suspected arson attack.
A caravan was damaged in the first suspected arson attack.
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A JustGiving page was also set up by Kevin Miller a former colleague of Sean’s to raise funds for the family and has now raised around £294,000.

Sean added: “We shouldn’t have to live like this and people in the village don’t feel safe anymore – It’s just sickening.”

Durham Constabulary confirmed no further action will be taken with those arrested.

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