Greenock businessman ‘gutted’ after vandal attack

James McCairn — who runs the ‘Man with a Van’ removal firm — says this is the third time his vehicles have been damaged.

Another van and a car were targeted previously and Mr McCairn has been left mystified over the incidents.

The 35-year-old had parked the vehicle in Fairrie Street overnight and when he went to collect it the windscreen was smashed up.

He said: “I’m gutted, this has happened a couple of times now.

“I couldn’t say it was a targeted attack but that’s twice the van has been damaged.

“My van was scratched and my car was keyed right along the paintwork.

“The last time it was parked in McPhail Street, so it’s happened twice in the same area.

“I’m from the east end, so you think the vans are going to be safe there because everyone knows me and you would think they would want to see me doing a bit better for myself.

“I do my bit for the community and give pensioners a discount.

“I’ve come from nothing and I’ve turned my life around.”

James, who recently helped to clear up an almighty mess left by fly-tippers at Loch Thom for free, says he is counting the cost of the vandal attack.

He says he’s down by at least £500 after forking out for repair of the windscreen, van hire and lost earnings. 

The dad-of-one said: “It all adds up, especially before Christmas.”

“No-one else’s car was touched.

“If somebody had a problem with me why don’t they just come up and see me?

“It’s disheartening.” 

James, who believes that the damage was done between 10.30pm last Monday and 5.30am on Tuesday, hasn’t reported it to police as he believes it would be fruitless and says he would prefer to focus on getting back to work.

He said: “There’s no cameras in the area and when my car got scratched they told me there was nothing they could do, ‘it was just one of those things’.

“The last time it happened I was angry but this time I thought ‘there’s nothing I can do’.

“I’ll never know who did it, so I thought I’d just get it fixed and get on with it.”