Britons rally together to raise money for carer whose car was torched in violent riots
Kind Britons have come together to raise more than £63,000 for a carer whose car was torched during a riot in Middlesbrough
Getty
Kind Britons have come together to raise more than £63,000 for a carer whose car was torched during a riot in Middlesbrough.
Brendan Nwabichie was left "traumatised" after finishing his 12-hour shift at a care home to discover that his car had been flipped over and set alight.
The care worker, from Nigeria, decided to leave his car at home following the news of a possible riot in Middlesbrough town centre.
Nwabichie had only bought his 2009 Peugeot three months earlier after saving up "a lot" over the year.
Kind Britons have come together to raise more than £63,000 for a carer whose car was torched during a riot in MiddlesbroughGettyHe said: "As an immigrant, I wanted to avoid getting in the way of people doing their protest, so I kept my car at home.
"I didn't know if it would be peaceful or not, but I didn't want to be targeted."
He added that he felt sick after realising he had already been a "victim of the riots" when he returned home.
The 33-year-old said: "I find it very hard to understand why this was happening, why are they attacking families and migrants and refugees?
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"My dream of coming to the UK and studying and working in Middlesbrough, turned into a nightmare because of this situation."
The care worker - who is also a Teesside University student - said he felt "relieved" and "safe once more" after being flooded with support from his workplace, residents and colleagues.
He has described his love for his work in Middlesbrough, and said the residents are "wonderful people" who "don't care about race or colour".
Ellie Smart, manager at Clare's Care Ltd, the agency where Nwabichie has worked for the past six months, launched the GoFundMe page to buy him a new car.
Violent protests broke out in Middlesborough on Sunday
PA
She said: "For someone to be out doing such an important job and to come back home to this is awful. He is so lovely as well.
"He messaged us to tell us what had happened. He said he was traumatised and had been a victim of the riots."
The manager added that any leftover funds would be used to help other people in the community who found themselves victims of the rioting.
You may like
