A cabbie claims Whitstable is being turned into “torch town” after his car was stolen and set light to in a nearby field.

Steve O’Mara’s Fiat Doblo was taken in a raid on his home in Valkyrie Avenue, Whitstable, which has robbed him of his livelihood.

To add insult to injury, it was found five days later burned to a blackened shell on land at the end of St David’s Close.

Steve, 69, said: “I’d owned the car for 11 years and kept it immaculate for the job. It was like a good friend to me so I am absolutely gutted.

“I’m not sure what’s going on because mine is the third car to be burnt out in as many months - this place is turning into torch town.”

In February, a Ford Fiesta went up in flames in St David’s Close and neighbours reported seeing a boy running away from the scene.

"I can only imagine they get some sick kick from seeing someone’s car being destroyed by fire..." - Steve O'Mara

Last month, a Skoda parked on a driveway in Beresford Road was also gutted to a shell by fire, putting a house at risk.

Steve said: “They must have taken petrol to my car to set it off which is incredibly dangerous. Sooner or later somebody is going to get hurt.”

His car was taken on April 3 after thieves snatched a chain saw and hedge cutter from his garage. They also managed to get into his kitchen and found the keys in a jacket pocket.

Steve, who has been driving a cab for 25 years, said: “I was hoping the car would just be dumped somewhere and I would get it back largely in one piece.

"It was upsetting to be told by police five days later that it had been found but was a right off.

"I can only imagine they get some sick kick from seeing someone’s car being destroyed by fire.

“It’s a real pain because I have had to get all the house locks changed and have got to find another vehicle which has to be immaculate to pass all the tests the council requires before it can be registered as a taxi, which is much stricter than the average MOT.”

Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft of the blue Fiat Doblo and its subsequent seting alight.

Detectives have released the description of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

He is white, in his 20s, of a slim build and was wearing a black Parker-style jacket with a fur collar and a black hooded top, dark-coloured tracksuit bottoms with red on the side of the leg and white trainers.

Det Con Adam Hinton said: "This theft has had a huge impact on the victim’s livelihood and we are extremely keen to trace the people responsible and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information can phone police on 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/010932/16.