Teacher’s £650,000 home set on fire after leaflet campaign ‘claiming he was a paedophile’

A serial objector to planning applications had his car and his £650,000 home targeted in an arson attack after a leaflet campaign wrongly claimed he was a ‘paedophile.’

Music teacher Kenneth Kolb, in his seventies, of Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire had to flee his property with his wife after it was set alight at 2.30am.

Police were investigating a ‘malicious’ campaign against him which saw printed leaflets pushed through letter boxes and handed out in the village falsely claiming he was a sex offender.

A copy of the leaflet said: ‘Please be aware!!! Peodophile (sic) in village. Ken Kolb – music teacher. 

Music teacher Kenneth Kolb, in his seventies, of Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire had to flee his property (pictured) with his wife after it was set alight at 2.30am. 

It went on to reveal his house name – the same property as that burned down by the arsonist.

Villagers in the leafy area said on Monday the arson attack on November 3 have rocked the neighbourhood.

Many did not want to be associated with the smear campaign against Mr Kolb – and told how the pensioner had been involved in a number of planning rows.

One said he had been told by detectives that they were investigating whether the planning objections – some of which have been successful – were at the root of the arson attack and leaflet allegations in the village.

Part of the leaflet that was handed out in the village, which also included his full address

Part of the leaflet that was handed out in the village, which also included his full address

The sleepy village of Grendon Underwood where Mr Kenneth Kolb's home has been burned in a blaze

The sleepy village of Grendon Underwood where Mr Kenneth Kolb’s home has been burned in a blaze

A local resident said: ‘The leaflets were being handed out in the village and some were put through letter-boxes. 

‘The claims are very hurtful and, as far as I know, completely untrue. I feel really sorry for Ken and his partner. They have virtually driven out of the village because of the arson.

‘Some say that the motive for the attack is Mr Kolb’s stands against planning applications. 

‘I know there was one where he objected to an incinerator and took his objection all the way to the High Court. That was back in 2013. 

‘There now seems to be a real vendetta of harassment and malicious claims made against him,’ said the resident who was unwilling to be named.

Mr Kolb was asked about the arson and the hate campaign leaflet allegations as he packed belongings into a red estate hire car and prepared to leave home.

He said: ‘I have been told by the police that I should not talk to the media about the fire or the leaflets. 

‘They are both the subject of a police investigation and I have been advised that I should not talk.’ 

One of the villagers said that a middle aged man had been handing out the leaflets with contact details of the man and added that the rumours were that he was paedophile. 

One villager, who also asked not to be identified, said: ‘Someone was handing out leaflets saying he is a paedo and put his address on it – and personal information, like two or three weeks ago. 

Mr Kolb and his wife escaped the blaze on Thursday evening but much of the property was damaged by the inferno

Mr Kolb and his wife escaped the blaze on Thursday evening but much of the property was damaged by the inferno

‘It was a middle aged man. There was beef between them and this guy. I don’t think he is a peado.’ 

Another resident said: ‘I heard it was a feud between neighbours and the dispute is over land. I woke up at 5am on the morning of the fire and saw flashing lights and the emergency services there. I just looked out over the front garden and saw the blaze – the charred remains of the house are horrible to wake up to each morning.’

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: ‘We are appealing for witnesses to incidents of malicious communications and arson with intent to endanger life in Grendon Underwood.

‘On Thursday October 18, leaflets of a malicious nature, concerning the victim – a man in his 70s – were handed out to members of the public during the day time.

‘Then at a time between 2.30am and 3am on Saturday, a car was deliberately set alight on Main Street, Grendon Underwood, resulting in the fire spreading to a property and causing damage. Thankfully there were no injuries.’

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Simon Johnson, of CID in Aylesbury, said: ‘We are appealing for witnesses to either or both of these incidents as we believe them to be linked.

‘If anyone was in Grendon Underwood at the time of either offence then please get in touch with police to help us with our investigation.’

The spokesman added: ‘A 38-year-old man from Grendon Underwood has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent. He has been released under investigation.

‘A 44-year-old man from Aylesbury and 39-year-old woman from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent and on suspicion of harassment without violence. They have both been bailed until December 3.’

The spokesman declined to name the man cited in the leaflet campaign or to identify him as the victim of the arson attack.   

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