Extra patrols as homeless man's tent set alight in park near Doncaster city centre
Man’s hands burnt trying to save possessions
A homeless man was left with scorched hands when the tent he'd been sleeping in was set alight in a suspected arson attack.
Though he was not inside when it was set alight in a city centre Doncaster park, he badly burnt his hands trying to rescue his few belongings from the flames.
The incident has led to an increase in patrols in the area by Doncaster Council and police.
Kenny Kennedy now owns just a sleeping bag, a groundsheet and a spare pair of shorts, given to him since the fire.
The 54- year-old said he had slept in his tent in Town Fields on the edge of Doncaster city centre, for around 50 nights over the last few months. When his tent was torched it had been pitched in the park for around 10 days.
”I wasn't in the park but I was nearby in town,” he said.
“One of the lads saw it was burning and came and found me.
“I rushed over and tried to save what bits and bobs I had, just some clothes and stuff, but I couldn't get anything. I burnt my hands pretty badly doing that.”
He said he knew no reason why he would be the target of such an attack.
He added: ”Life on the streets can be rough but I'm sure this wasn't personal - there's nobody who's got a grudge against me. It was just cruel.”
Kenny, who moved to Doncaster from his hometown Goole at the age of 19, has been on the streets for 12 months since losing his most recent home.
”It all got a bit too much for me and I couldn't cope,” he said.
”When I got the tent - the bloke who gave it to me said he used to use it for festivals - it was brilliant. Before that I'd been literally on the streets.'
He added that his time in the park had previously passed without incident.
”Some kids were a bit cheeky but that was it,” he said. “I didn't stay there during the day - I'd go into town and then go back about six.
”People left me alone and I tried to keep myself to myself. There was no bother at all.”
He added that he feels the attitudes that led to his tent being burnt are typical of the way people view homeless people.
”People are frightened of us because of the way we look,“ he said.
”I know my hair and beard are a mess - it's not easy to keep up when you're homeless. We get moved on for sitting in bits of town where they've put seats for people to sit on.
“I've been moved on in town at five in the morning - who am I bothering then? We get it all the time.”
Dan Swaine, executive director of place at Doncaster Council, said: “City of Doncaster Council is working with all relevant partners, including the police, to respond to the alleged incident that took place in Town Fields.
“The council has zero tolerance for crime or any form of behaviour that could put the safety of others at risk. Extra patrols are being conducted in and around the Town Fields area and our dedicated outreach teams are offering support to any rough sleepers within the community.
“If the public have any information that could aid in the investigation here, they are encouraged to report this.”