Police are working alongside fire service colleagues to investigate the cause of a suspicious bungalow fire in Shanklin overnight – a property connected to well-known local criminal, Ben Entwistle.
As first reported by Island Echo, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was called to Westlake Avenue at just before 04:15 this morning (Saturday) with a total of 4 appliances from Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin mobilised to the scene.
The property was well alight when firefighters arrived, with flames breaking out through the roof. 4 breathing apparatus, 4 hose reel jets and 2 main jets were used to contain and extinguish the fire, which has completely destroyed the detached bungalow.
It has been confirmed that no one was inside the home when the fire broke out and that neighbouring properties have escaped damage.
Hampshire Constabulary says that it is treating the incident as suspicious, with on-site investigations underway to determine the cause of the blaze. One line of investigation is the property’s connection with local criminal Ben Entwistle.
A spokesperson for the force has said:
“We are currently treating the fire as suspicious and officers are conducting enquires along with the fire service.
Article continues below this advertisement “A scene is currently in place and will remain for some time.
“Did you see anything suspicious in the area at the time? Please call us on 101 or provide us information online through the Hampshire Constabulary website, using reference number: 44220079151.”
To many big fish in a small pond.
With any luck he hadn’t kept up his insurance – assuming he owned it.
You lot do realise your Facebook accounts are linked to these comments
i don’t have Facebook so thats not quite true is it lol
What a shame i hope the police don’t spend too much time on this.
On a tv program it showed women getting 3 months for setting fire to a homeless persons bedding and another got 6 years in prison for setting fire to a homeless persons tent, now my tent got burned on the IOW and the police did naff all , even though there was reasonable suspicion and a lot of other easy stuff they could have done if bothered. Maybe they like arsonists to get away with it and then be likely to do it again.
Every sympathy, typical island police and also typical small minded people.
All the best geeze, don’t let the b*****s drag you down.