MANCHESTER: Yobs lay siege to family home

Yobs lay siege to family home

Paul Guisborne-Hilton and the car window smashed by vandals

A Langley family have spoken of their night of terror after thugs launched a vicious attack against their home.

http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/news/s/231/231846_yobs_lay_siege_to_family_home.html

Tearaways pelted the property on Windermere Road with bricks and other make-shift missiles, terrifying Barbara Guisborne-Hilton, her husband Paul, and their children and grandchildren holed-up inside.

At the height of Sunday evening’s attack, youths launched a brick through the front window, sending shattered glass flying across the living room, hitting Barbara on the leg.

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The brick also destroyed a mobile phone, laptop and an irreplaceable glass vase., which had sentimental value.

It came after youths cynically told the family to ‘enjoy their weekend’ on friday evening, forboding the attack.

The incident is the latest in a string of attacks against the family who say they are targeted by youths between aged as young as six on the estate because of their willingness to speak out against the violent alcohol fuelled vandalism of the groups.

Recent attacks have included damage to the families home, cars and even physical attacks against Barbara.

In another sickening move, youths have even targeted the families cats, shaving, singeing and spray painting the moggies.

A shattered Barbara, who had endured countless sleepless nights said: "There seems to be something everynight. Sometimes it's just little things, but last night was something else.

"In the past they've thrown eggs at our house, launched mud pellets, even smashed the windows on our cars. They even wrote off our old car by bending the steering column after breaking into it.

"I just can't sleep, neither can any of us, my little grandson hasn’t been able to sleep in his own bed for over a month because he is so scared."

Barbara, who has endured several heart attacks and strokes over the past decade added: "Time and time again I’ve contacted the police and Bowlee Park but it's getting worse.

"I just don’t know where to turn.

"People have suggested we move, but why should we? Were doing nothing wrong."

Her husband Paul said: "We are frightened to stay incase something else comes through the window, frightened to get up, just frightened to go out even.

"If Barbara had been sitting by the window a shard of glass could have gone into the back of her head, this could have killed someone."

The latest spate of incidents began on 4 August when teenage vandals broke into the couples car, ripped off the steering wheel and bent the steering column in the process, writing the vehicle off.

The couple, who need a car for Paul’s work as a dispatch driver bought a new vehicle only for hoodlums to target it, breaking a window and smashing the body work in with a metal bar.

The couple estimate the bill for campaign of hate orchestrated by yobs on the estate them tops £2,500.

Bowlee Park Housing’s Neighbourhood Manager Jeff Allen said: "We are sorry to hear that Mrs Guisborne-Hilton and her family have suffered a distressing incident last night.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to all acts of anti-social behaviour. Our housing officer has tried to contact her to find out more about what happened. Once we have a statement we can develop a plan of action to help improve the situation.

"In the mean time, we have increased the number of community warden patrols in the area. We are also working with the police and other agencies including Community Safety."

Sergeant Peter Hargreaves from the neighbourhood policing team said: "We are more than aware of the problems being faced by this family, and appreciate that they are suffering badly at the hands of these offenders.

"This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by police. It is simply unacceptable that these people cannot even feel safe in their own homes.

"Every report made to us is being fully investigated, and we are following a number of lines of inquiry, as well as working with our partner agencies to ensure everything possible is done to stop this happening.

"The PCSOs who patrol this area are aware of this issue, and will be looking out for anything they can find to help bring those responsible to justice. However, we’d also like to appeal to other members of the community to come forward with information about this if they have any. Think of this family unable to sleep at night and, if you know anything, please come forward to help us."