Pensioners petrified of vandal attacks

Residents of a sheltered housing complex in Southwell that is regularly targeted by vandals say they are scared to go to sleep at night.

Washing lines in the King’s Court development were bent and poles were pulled out of the ground during the most recent incident on Tuesday night.

One resident, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said she and fellow residents were petrified.

The 87-year-old woman, who suffers from high blood pressure, said a brick was thrown through a window in her ground floor flat a couple of weeks ago.

She said: “It was in my kitchen — right where I sit doing my crosswords at night.”

The resident said eggs, bread and potatoes had been thrown at windows.

She believed those responsible were schoolchildren and that the incidents were alcohol-related.

An 83-year-old resident who moved to King’s Court in October said she felt very unsettled.

“I came to live here to be safe. But practically every week we have had something go wrong,” she said.

Mr Fin McElhinney, the customer services director for Newark and Sherwood Homes, which manages the development, said he was aware of the problems.

He said the organisation would support any action taken and if any of the perpetrators were found to be council tenants, it would take independent action.