Swaffham couple start Gofundme after home destroyed by fire

Manuel Scarrone, 43, and Valentin Tacciu, 28, bought their dream new-build home in Lancaster Road, Swaffham, in April 2022.

But on Sunday, June 30, their world was torn apart when a stolen car driven by two teenagers caught fire and crashed into their living room.

A stolen car being driven by two teenagers crashed into their Swaffham new-build (Image: Manuel Scarrone)

Mr Scarrone was away in Italy at the time, leaving Mr Tacciu alone in the house with their dog, Gizmo.

He was woken by a large bang at 5am and looked out of his bedroom window to see smoke, flames and a car partially lodged inside his home.

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The fire spread in minutes but Mr Tacciu and Gizmo managed to flee and alert the emergency services.

Mr Scarrone could not find a seat on a flight back to the UK until Tuesday.

Valentin Tacciu (left) and Manuel Scarrone (right) bought the home in 2022 (Image: Manuel Scarrone)

The property remains unsafe for them to enter and they have been placed into emergency hotel accommodation for two weeks before their insurance can provide a more permanent option.

They have been told they cannot move back home for six to eight months and that most of their belongings are unsalvageable.

"It is absolutely devastating - we are just so traumatised," Mr Scarrone said.

"Our home was everything to us - we had been so proud to buy it and fill it with love but in the blink of an eye we lost everything we had worked for.

"I am an interior designer myself so you can imagine how I feel about my home - I put my whole heart into it."

Mr Tacciu managed to save their dog, Gizmo, from the fire (Image: Manuel Scarrone)

He added the nature of the incident made the loss even more difficult to process.

"It is literally the last phone call I ever expected to receive," he said.

"The way in which it happened is the most shocking.

Maybe if the fire had been caused by the boiler or something else inside the house I could understand a bit more - but two underage kids driving a car? Can you imagine how that feels? It is crazy and just really, really awful."

Before and after shots showing the damage to the living room (Image: Manuel Scarrone)

The couple has launched a Gofundme page to help them rebuild their lives while they await further instruction from the insurance company.

It currently sits at £680 of its £10,000 target.

A Norfolk police spokeswoman confirmed two teenage boys were arrested in Lynn Street shortly after the fire.

They were taken to King’s Lynn Police Station and questioned on suspicion of arson endangering life, aggravated vehicle taking, drink and drug driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

They were released on bail pending further investigation with conditions not to enter Lancaster Road.