Charity's minibus heads for scrapheap after vandal attack

A community cafe’s minibus is heading for the scrapheap after it was smashed up during an act of vandalism.

Lifegate Community Cafe’s transit van was parked in a secure lot in Dundee when it was broken into at some point between Friday night and Saturday morning.

As well as smashing the windows, the vandal also damaged the vehicle’s bodywork and left behind a trail of blood.

Debbie Findlay, who runs the Whitfield Church-based cafe, told STV News it was a blow to the group as the minibus wasn’t insured and was taken off-road amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It now faces being scrapped.

Ms Findlay said: “We are disappointed for the elderly who use this transport to attend our tea dances.

“We have up to 70 elderly attendees and a lot rely on transportation. We also use the minibus for our youth group.

“It took a lot of fundraising to buy the minibus, so I guess we will have to begin again.

“We have never experienced anything like this before.

“We don’t have the funds to replace or fix it, so we will fundraise.”

Police Scotland confirmed a 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident.

A force spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of vandalisms in Dundee.

“The incidents involved retail premises at Milton of Craigie Road North and a vehicle parked at Balunie Drive.

“All of the incidents occurred during the early hours of Saturday.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”