Devastated couple offer reward to find intruder who sank fishing boat

Devastated couple offer ‘substantial’ reward to find hooded intruder who drilled holes in their lobster fishing boat which sank in Scottish harbour and caused £50k worth of damage

• Tina and Ross Coventry’s livelihood was ‘destroyed’ after their boat was sunk
• Fishing vessel the Tina Louise was attacked as it sat in a Fife harbour at night
• CCTV shows a man in a purple hoodie heading for the craft with a power drill  

A family’s fishing business has been ‘destroyed’ after their lobster vessel was sunk by a hoodie-clad man carrying a power drill, causing £50,000 of damage.

Tina and Ross Coventry say their shellfish delivery business is facing crippling losses after the attack on their bright yellow keel, the Tina Louise, which was captured on CCTV.

The couple, from Fife, Scotland, provide fresh lobster and mackerel to a number of high-end restaurants.

But footage shows the boat being attacked by a hooded man dressed in purple who drilled holes in the hull – causing it to sink in just four minutes.

The attack, on July 28, has caused tens of thousands of pounds of damage that could have ruined the family’s livelihood – were it not for the charity of strangers who so far have donated nearly £7,000 to help recover their boat and get it repaired.

Tina and Ross Coventry’s fishing boat the Tina Louise after it was sunk in a harbour in Fife. The couple are offering a ‘substantial’ reward for any information on the individual responsible

CCTV has been released of a man dressed in a purple hoodie and matching trousers on the boardwalk leading to the vessel in Fife, Scotland. He appears to be carrying a power drill

The Coventry family – Tina, son Jamie and Ross – say their livelihood has been ‘destroyed’ by the act of vandalism. Police are making enquiries into the July 28 incident

The couple, who have a young son, Jamie, are now offering a substantial reward for information that helps identify the hooded vandal in order to bring him to justice.

Ross, 47, said: ‘It is devastating, this time of the year is peak season for lobster – you don’t get many in winter.

‘We have built up a good customer base of top-end restaurants who have now lost their regular supplier.

‘Because of the number of incidents in the area, police are now looking to see if there is a connection.’

A spate of thefts in the area have also seen thousands of pounds worth of lobster stolen at the Methil Dockyards where the boat was moored, prompting a police investigation that has so far failed to make a breakthrough.

The vandal is said to have climbed over a security fence leading into the Methil Dockyards. Footage appears to show him making his way to The Tina Louise before drilling holes in the hull below the waterline

The couple have also released CCTV images of a man walking to the boat carrying what appears to be a drill on the morning of the attack.

They claim that he climbed the security fence, and made his way directly to the Tina Louise, before drilling a number of holes in the hull below the waterline.

The malicious act took just a few minutes – but the water overwhelmed the bilge pump batteries and the boat sank a few hours later.

Ross said: ‘It took less than four minutes to destroy our livelihoods. We need to get the boat back on to dry land to see what the damage is and whether it is worth repairing.

‘The hull can be fixed, but the engine has been in sea water for a whole week and the there is no hope of the electronics in it working.

‘Even if it is a write-off we have to then go and find a boat and it isn’t as easy as just buying a car.

‘This is the busiest time of the year so not many are selling, and any new boat has to go through a number of tests and checks to make sure it is sea worthy.’

Ross fears he could be left on dry land for a considerable amount of time, unable to work. The final repair bill is estimated to be somewhere in the region of £50,000.

The Tina Louise in happier times, before it was sunk by a malicious vandal. Vikki Wood, a restauranteur who buys fish from the Coventry family, has launched a fundraising page to help them get back on their feet

One of the family’s customers, Vikki Wood of The Wee Restaurant in North Queensferry, has created a fundraising page to help support them.

She wrote on the JustGiving profile: ‘We know times are tough for everyone right now but as a large supermarket chain says ‘every little helps.’ Let’s help to also restore Tina and Ross’s faith in humanity.

‘Someone or some people are trying their hardest to put them out of business.’

Police Scotland say they are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson for the service said: ‘Around 7:00am on Friday, July, 28 we received a report that a boat had been damaged causing it to sink at Methil Dockyards, Harbour View, Methil.

‘Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 0569 of 28 July, 2023.’

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