A puppeteer has suffered a huge blow that has left him on the verge of bankruptcy after the van he used for work was stolen, containing all of his puppets and other equipment worth £12,000.
The van was taken from the car park of the flats where John Jacques lives in Rawtenstall and he has been unable to perform his Punch and Judy act since, costing him thousands of pounds in lost earnings.
Jacques said:
“For the sake of a few hundred pounds in scrap metal, these thieves have put me on the brink of bankruptcy because I can’t perform anymore.
“I don’t make a fortune, I make a crust, and now I am struggling even more. To call these people scum is more than they deserve but that is the way the world works nowadays.”
Among the items inside the van were a puppet booth, barriers, mats, signs, a sound system and a total of 24 puppets.
Unfortunately, Jacques’ van insurance only covers him for accidents, so he will not be able to claim for the items within the van.
The van has not been seen since, but Jacques points out that the contents are of no use to anyone else.
