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May 06, 2024

Scots couple offer reward to catch masked man who sunk fishing boat with power drill

Ross and Tina Coventry are offering an award to find the culprit that drilled holes in The Tina Louise before it sank. Get the latest Scottish crime and courts news sent straight to your inbox with

Ross and Tina Coventry are offering an award to find the culprit that drilled holes in The Tina Louise before it sank.

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A 'substantial reward' is being offered to anyone with information that identifies a masked man who deliberately drill holes into a fishing boat causing it to sink.

Tina and Ross Coventry, who own The Tina Louise, say their shellfish delivery business is facing crippling losses after the attack. The vessel docked at the Methill Boat Club in Leven was targeted shortly after 12am on Friday, July 28.

Images shared of the attack show a man climbing a security fence with what appears to be a battery-powered drill. They say he then walks directly to the boat and drills a number of holes in the hull below the waterline. Three minutes later, the man leaves the scene and climbs back over the security gate.

Tina and Ross provide lobster and mackerel to a number a number of high end restaurants and could have been 'ruined' by the incident if it was not for the charity of strangers - who so far have donated nearly £7,000 to help recover their boat.

They're now offering a substantial reward for any information that helps identify the hooded vandal.

Ross, 47, of Fife, 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."

Police have launched a probe following a spate of thefts in the area where thousands of pounds worth of lobster stolen at Methil Dockyards in Fife.

The Tina Louise sank just hours later after the bilge pump batteries were overwhelmed by water and the couple do not know if the damage to the boat can be repaired.

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 could run into tens of thousands of pounds.

One of their customers, Vikki Wood of The Wee Restaurant in North Queensferry, has created a justgiving page to help support the couple.

She wrote on the justgiving page: "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."

Police Scotland say they are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson for the force 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."

To help the family please donate here.

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