Robert Green’s converted prison van resembled a scene from a disaster movie after teenagers tore the doors off and trashed his business.
It is irreparably damaged, with electricity wires cut, windows smashed and a grill and drinks cabinet stolen.
The 65-year-old had parked the van on Crown Street, near Sainsbury’s in Shirley as he saved money to pay a £2,000 bill for the vehicle’s MOT, tax and insurance.
Robert bought the converted prison van during the Covid-19 pandemic at the cost of £20,000 before selling Caribbean food in Shirley, telling the Echo he had put all his money into the business venture.
“I’ve never harmed anyone in my life and for someone to do this to me is really saddening, my dreams have been crushed.
“Every time I look at the van, I could cry. I try and find the positives in everything but it’s one of those things where if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
“I’m 65 years old, it will be very hard for me to find a job at my age, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, I think it will cost around £7,000 to try and repair everything.”
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“I’ve put everything into this business,” said Robert.
“Cooking is my passion, and I know if I could get up and running again it would make a lot of money and I’d be able to employ people to share in my passion.
“When I first opened the van, business was great and I loved it, people had never seen me so happy.
“Now, I’ve got no money and my dream is shattered. I just want to be happy again.
“It would mean the world if someone could help me find a way to get going again.”
After the van was vandalised, a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We received a report at 7.15pm on Monday, June 2, of entry forced and damage caused to a van in a car park on Crown Street, Southampton.”
The Echo contacted police for more information but a spokesperson for the force said there was no further update to give at this time, while the investigation continues.
