A wealthy businesswoman involved in a long running feud had two cars blown up in a firebomb attack outside her posh home.
Firefighters attended the mystery blaze at the mansion home of Margo Wilson and husband James but an Audi car and Ford Transit van were completely destroyed.
The terrifying attack in Uddingston took place just two miles from a restaurant in conservation village Bothwell, which was repeatedly ram-raided and set ablaze in recent years.
The incessant attacks forced San Vincenzo owner Vincent Marini to sell up - accepting a cut-price £458,000 for the building at a property auction last month.
A source told our sister paper, the Daily Record: “When San Vincenzo opened in Bothwell in 2018 it was seen as a big deal for the village, as it had a proper chef and a loads of tables.
“But within a few months there were cars ram-raiding the premises and it was being set on fire.
“Bothwell has been the centre of so many car firebombs in the last couple of years, it’s hard to believe and it’s impossible to work out what is behind it all.
“It has turned a peaceful village into a war zone and local people are sick of it.”
During a case last year at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Wilson faced claims from Vincent Marini that she had hired a hitman to put him “in a suit” - meaning kill him - which the businesswoman denied.
She said Marini had “a lot of enemies”.
The claims came amid a trial relating to the alleged theft of signs and canopies at the restaurant by Wilson and two men, which ended when prosecutors dropped the charges.
The trial heard how a feud between the two erupted after a minor planning dispute relating to a flat above the restaurant, owned by Wilson.
She said there was damage to her flat during building work before its opening.
Wilson said she has spent more than £100,000 taking legal action against Marini. She said damage caused by unauthorised work has left her with a roof repair bill of up to £20,000.
When San Vincenzo was sold in September, sellers Auction House Scotland described the property as a ‘fantastic commercial development’ but warned of extensive internal damage due to the fires.
They added: “The internal accommodation has been extensively fire damaged and vandalised throughout and requires a full programme of works to return to its former glory.
“This is an exciting opportunity for an investor/developer to undertake the required works and create a fabulous business within a prestigious catchment area.”
In June this year, emergency services raced to the restaurant for a fifth time after a car was found engulfed in flames outside.
In March police and the fire service were called just before midnight amid reports of a blaze.
Shortly before the Italian eatery was forced to close in October 2019, a red Vauxhall Corsa was driven through a large window of the building before being set on fire.
Massive 50ft flames leapt from the property as horrified locals watched on.
In September 2019 another vehicle was torched outside the property.
And in June of that year a pick-up truck was captured on CCTV as it smashed through a window straight into the restaurant before speeding off.
In March 2020, Marini claimed there was a ‘sustained effort’ to drive him out of business and he posted on Facebook, ‘Sadly, they won’.
Last June Glasgow High Court heard how Margo Wilson was caught up in a £100,000 blackmail plot.
Her daughter’s Noreen’s partner, Graham Martin, 29, flew into a rage after discovering partner Noreen had texted an ex.
He attacked Noreen, 31, then sent a text to Margo saying: “I want £100,000 or I’m slitting her throat.”
Martin was later jailed for six-and-a-half years for assault and attempted extortion.
At Margo Wilson’s home a man who answered the door to a Daily Record reporter closed it again without making comment.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.
