Moment mum catches suspected arson attack on CCTV
Holly Cham, 33, from Bootle, says the incident has left her unable to sleep with worry.
Image source, Holly Cham
Image caption, The footage shows a stranger appearing from the back of the house just moments before the fire takes hold
ByGeorgie Docker
North West
A mum-of-two has said she was "disgusted" after watching CCTV of an arson attacker setting fire to her home.
Holly Cham, 33, from Bootle, in Merseyside, was away with her children when - in an incident caught on her security cameras - a stranger appeared to emerge from her garage, coming back into view as a fire took hold.
A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a fire on 24 August, Merseyside Police said.
He was released on conditional bail pending further enquiries, the force said.
Figure caption, Moment CCTV captures home being set on fire
The footage shows a man appearing from the back of the property and walking away from the garage. Moments later, light shines on the walls of the house as a fire begins to take hold.
The man can then be seen walking along the street and knocking on neighbours' doors before returning to Holly's home and knocking on the front door.
Holly's boyfriend, who was inside the house at the time, answers the door to the man and moves his car off the drive in front of the house.
Image source, Holly Cham
Image caption, The fire took hold in the early hours of the morning
Holly said her boyfriend had been in the property at the time, looking after the house while she was away with her children.
"I was disgusted," Holly said. "My boyfriend could have lost his life.
"Our neighbourhood is terrified, with neighbours taking turns to keep watch through the night because nobody feels safe.
"The garage has no roof, windows are broken, the house is smoke damaged.
"Repairs will cost thousands."
Holly said the incident has left her unable to work.
"While I have a boyfriend but I am a single parent," she explained.
"I run a small business from home but all my stock and equipment have been destroyed.
"I now have to rebuild my business from zero, while losing my only source of income at the same time."
Image source, Holly Cham
Image caption, Some of the windows at the property were shattered by the blaze
Holly said her boyfriend had been sleeping as the fire took hold, and was woken by a stranger ringing the doorbell.
"He opened the bedroom door and saw smoke coming out coming in from the bathroom window," Holly said.
Holly said her boyfriend called the fire service as soon as he got out of the house.
"They turned up and tried to put the fire out in the garage," she said. "They went in the house and the fire already spread to inside.
"It's broken two windows - I think due to the intense heat.
"Everything in the garage is gone.
"Inside the house there's no electricity and my work area and the bathroom is all smoke damaged."
Image source, Holly Cham
Image caption, Holly said the repairs could cost up to £10,000
Holly has since moved in with her parents with her six-year-old and her 11-year-old, but she said the upheaval has been a strain for her son Ethan, who has autism.
"Losing his home, belongings and routines has been incredibly difficult for him," Holly said.
"I am grateful that I can stay at my mum's for now but we need to be back in our own place.
"The children are back at school now and it is quite a distance away.
"I'm trying to stay strong for the children but behind closed doors I'm struggling with sleepless nights worrying."
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