Blackburn man's £140k Aston Martin torched (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn man's £140k Aston Martin torched

12:00pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News By Catherine Pye , Health reporter

A £140,000 Aston Martin was torched outside its owner’s semi-detached Blackburn home in a suspected arson attack.

Owner Tim Osman, 49, said he was “horrified” to see the quantum silver DB9 sports coupe alight in the drive of his house in Wilworth Crescent, Pleckgate, Blackburn.

Police said the car had a broken window and are investigating whether lighter fluid had been poured inside before it was torched.

The regional sales representative was woken to the unfolding drama by his wife, who had heard “crashes and bangs” at 1.20am yesterday.

The couple, who have two sons, ran outside to extinguish the blaze, which has ravaged the hand-stiched black leather interior.

Mr Osman said: “It was bought brand new in February, and it’s my dream car. I don’t drive it that often.

“I came outside and my head couldn’t compute what was going on. At first I thought it must be an electrical fault, but then I noticed that the driver’s side window had been smashed, and barbecue lighter fuel had been poured in and set on fire.

“I can’t understand why anybody would do something like this. Someone who is jealous might scratch it as they walk by, but it takes effort to go out of your way with lighter fuel.

"I can’t think of anyone I’ve fallen out with who would do something like this, so I couldn’t help the police at all.

“I even started thinking that if the car wasn’t there, would they have put something through the letter box?”

“I am angry, and at the moment the car’s been taken back to Aston Martin for assessment. It will definitely be a few thousand pounds to sort out.”

Police have confirmed an investigation is underway.A spokesman said: “Officers were called at 1.20am to reports of an Aston Martin DB9 which had a broken window and had been set on fire in a driveway.

“It’s looking like it could be arson, a neighbour has stated he saw someone running away from the scene.”

Mr Osman’s Aston Martin DB9 has a six litre, V12 engine capable of a top speed of 190mph, has 469 brake horse power.