Police renew appeal for information after arson attack at Chesterfield firm

Heartbroken staff at Black Diamond Spas on Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor, have told how they lost stock worth £100,000 in the crime.

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On Tuesday, a Derbyshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses as part of investigations into an incident of arson at a business premises in Chesterfield.

“The fire is understood to have started at around 12.15am on August 12 when several hot tubs were set ablaze at the premises in Stand Park industrial Estate, Sheffield Road.

“The fire, which was deemed to be deliberate following a fire investigation, caused a significant amount of damage.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Staff Investigator Sarah Price, quoting reference number 21*452033.”

Four fire crews battled to bring the blaze under control – which left nothing but tangled, ashy remains in the firm's car park once it was doused.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service later told the Derbyshire Times an investigation revealed 12 palettes had been deliberately set alight.

But a manager at the company – which sells hot tubs, spas and swim spas – said the palettes were housing five swim spas when they were ignited.

Jake Keller described how customers with serious mobility problems had waited ‘months’ for the therapeutic pools – which were being prepared for delivery at the time.

He said: “We’ve had customers waiting for months and months for these items – most of them had made adaptions to their gardens.

“We’ve had to upset a lot of people who use these spas for health reasons – disabled people who use them for swimming.”

Jake said the awful attack would ‘affect’ the business financially – while its workforce was made up of local men with young families to support.

He said: “It’s a lot of money – where do you find that sort of money?”

Worried manager Jake said so far the business was completely in the dark as to why it was targeted.

He added: “This is a serious arson attack – and as far as we know it’s totally unprovoked.

“We’re just trying to sell spas and make a living.”

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