Vandals destroy Jaguars
Discussion
said:
Vandals caused hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of damage to a collection of classic cars after driving them into one another and into fences during a wrecking spree.
Thirty-four Jaguars, some worth more than £150,000, were smashed up after the vandals broke into a storage unit over the weekend.
James Hull owns the Jaguars, some of which are extremely rare, and has built up the collection since 1979.
He said: "I'm still shocked. The devastation is unbelievable.
"Thirty-odd years of my life was destroyed in two hours."
The cars were stored in a secure unit in Corporation Road, Newport. The vandals forced open the shutters and broke into the building.
Mr Hull, 45, a dentist at the Coach House practice in Bassaleg, said he has always had a passion for Jaguars.
He owns a collection of 60 cars, the oldest dating from 1934.
He says it is the most important private Jaguar collection in Europe. Six of the damaged vehicles were going to be used in the Queen's birthday celebrations this year.
"Some of the cars are irreplaceable," Mr Hull said. "It's about the history behind them."
A mechanic who looks after the cars discovered the damage yesterday morning. The full cost of the damage is still being assessed.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. Forensic checks are being carried out on the vehicles in a bid to catch the vandals.
DC Jon Skillett said: "It's mindless vandalism. They rallied around, smashing the cars into each other.
"They've had a whale of a time causing damage."
Prior to the incident Mr Hull had been in talks with other collectors about opening a motoring history museum in Newport, but he said the plans are no longer viable.
Pictures
>> Edited by Church of Noise on Saturday 4th March 11:32
What can be said that has'nt been said before. But we all know that if the brainless morons who perpetrated this get caught they will simply be slapped on the wrist and sent on thier way.
Just hope that at least some of the cars can be repaired, but none will ever be the same again of course.
Just hope that at least some of the cars can be repaired, but none will ever be the same again of course.
I assume this is Newport, Gwent.
No surprise then, it's what people (kids often) there do as a life. The idea of a secure unit in Newport is something of an oxymoron.
Apologies to anyone in Newport who may be offended but I worked in the area regularly for some years, saw and heard what was going on and was told of events by locals who knew the locals involved.
Of course it doesn't make the situation any better.
Chap must be doing Ok as a dentist to have such a collection.
No surprise then, it's what people (kids often) there do as a life. The idea of a secure unit in Newport is something of an oxymoron.
Apologies to anyone in Newport who may be offended but I worked in the area regularly for some years, saw and heard what was going on and was told of events by locals who knew the locals involved.
Of course it doesn't make the situation any better.
Chap must be doing Ok as a dentist to have such a collection.
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