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Man at end of his tether over garden vandalism
A devastated Westwood man says he had been forced to chain his patio furniture to his fence because yobs have targeted his beloved garden so many times.
A devastated Westwood man says he had been forced to chain his patio furniture to his fence because yobs have targeted his beloved garden so many times.Michael Newton (60) says he is at the end of his tether following the latest attack on his pride and joy garden in Lowick Gardens, Westwood, Peterborough, when hooligans smashed two bird boxes he had bought.
The former van and fork lift truck driver says he wants to move out of the area after enduring countless attacks over a three year period.
These include three break-ins to his car, the theft of solar lights, tables and chairs from his front garden, and plants being wrenched out of the ground.
He said: "I absolutely love tending my garden.
"The old folk from the nearby residential home often stop by to admire my flowers.
"But I am sick and tired of this happening to me.
"I cannot even grow my daffodils because every spring they are stolen. One Mother's Day I went out to pick some for my mother and there were about four flowers left out of about 100."
He said the bird boxes cost around 60 and 25 respectively. "I was so upset when I noticed they had been damaged. I like to sit in my lounge and watch the birds feed.
"When I first moved to Westwood five years ago it was pleasant, but in the past three years I have had all these problems.
"I have had enough. I will just let the weeds grow now. There is just no point."
Mr Newton said he has been forced to chain up and padlock his patio furniture and he is too scared to go to the shops in Hampton Court at night because of youths hanging around.
"If I run out of milk at night I won't go out until the morning, I will just have the powdered stuff."
He added: "I have never had an officer visit me about these attacks. It feels pointless to report it."
Neighbourhood beat officer for Westwood Pc Scott Houghton said he would look into the incident and if Mr Newton was a repeat victim then an officer would visit him.
Officers say they are considering establishing a dispersal order in Hampton Court, which will allow them to disband groups of troublemakers and ban them from the area for 24 hours.
A number of youths in the area have also signed acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) where they agree to behave. If they breach them they could lose their housing association homes.
Mr Newton's bird boxes were vandalised between 10pm on Saturday and 4am on Sunday. If you know who did it, call police on 0845 456 4564.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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