STROOD/KENT: Yobs push salon owner to the edge of suicide

Yobs push salon owner to the edge of suicide
http://ickent.icnetwork.co.uk/kentnews/tm_headline=yobs-push-salon-owner-to-the-edge-of-suicide&method=full&objectid=19526261&siteid=74229-name_page.html

A HAIRDRESSER has hit out at the teenage yobs who repeatedly targeted her for 18 months, wearing her down to the point where she was suicidal and forcing her to shut her beloved salon. The terrified woman, who asked to remain anonymous through fear of retaliation, endured a sickening array of abuse at the hands of the gang of 20, ranging from egg throwing to threatening her with rape. Two of the thugs were slapped with antisocial behaviour orders at Medway Magistrates' Court earlier this month. The persistent threats and vandalism started on the same day she set up shop in Carnation Road, Strood. By April this year the problems had become so frequent and terrifying the hairdresser closed her beloved Ella Kay salon. She said: "I was on antidepressants for eight months and was forced to shut the salon in which I invested more than £20,000. "When they started targeting the stylist and our junior was forced to leave because her parents were so concerned about her safety, I thought 'what's the point?' "It got to the stage where I just didn't want to go to work. It made me feel sick. I used to dread driving down the road because I'd be thinking 'what am I going to see on my salon today?' "I couldn't cut a client's hair without looking out the window to see what the gang was doing. "I asked them time and time again to leave me alone but the more I asked them not to do something the more they did it." Between the opening day in November 2005 and April this year the thugs notched up a long list of outrages, including throwing paint against the front window, glueing her locks shut and threatening her husband with a baseball bat. One yob sunk to a particularly venomous low, daubing "U R going to get raped tonight slut" on the salon door. The list of abuse she endured includes: A wall at the back of the salon was demolished brick by brick, and then hurled onto her roof. Footballs were repeatedly kicked against her salon door. Locks were glued shut. "Slut" was sprayed on her shop front. Abuse was hurled at her. Yobs came into her salon and harassed the staff. Her husband was threatened with a baseball bat. Eggs and fruit were thrown at the window. Thugs spat on her windows. Two of the hoodlums responsible - Jack Gasper and James Stone - were given Asbos. Gasper, 17, of Lancelot Close, and Stone, 18, of Hyacinth Road, both Strood, are banned from entering Carnation Road and from climbing on to the roof of any building. The petrified hairdresser said the Asbos were not a suitable deterrent. She said: "I don't think Asbos will work, you might as well just give them a medal because that's how they see them. It's not enough. "I lost my business. I would not have closed if it wasn't for them. "I want them to feel like I did. I want them to feel what it's like to lose something. I hope they rot." Looking back, the hairdresser said: "I was over the moon when I opened. I thought it would be packed with clients and I could work part-time, open another salon and live happily every after. "But they ruined that. When it came to closing I could not even pack things away. I just sat there like it was a bad dream. "My advice to anyone who wants to reopen the shop is don't. It's not worth the hassle. I pity the next person who takes it on."