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Living in fear after gun attack

Simon Thacker
22/12/2005

A HORRIFIED pensioner who has suffered a campaign of terror from vandals on his estate was stunned when thugs peppered his door with air rifle pellets.

Barry Porter, a retired builder, moved into his house on Walmsley Close, Church, five years ago.

Since then he has suffered a catalogue of incidents including:

• Eggs thrown at his house.

• Graffiti sprayed on his walls.

• Three burglaries.

• Wires for his satellite television pulled out.

He has also been threatened in the street, including one incident in which a group told him they would burn his house down.

The latest attack, which took place last Thursday, happened when Mr Porter was at home with a guest.

He said: "I had one of my friends over and we were having a chat.

"As he got up to go, I heard a loud crack. We had a look outside and there was a mark in the door.

"It had happened three times before and until now I have ignored it, but this time I reported it to the police. I have had enough."

Mr Porter, who lives alone but has a daughter Lyndsey, who lives in Wales, said: "They are going for me because I am vulnerable and on my own.

"They broke in one time and stole money, my mobile phone, videos and all sorts of things. They can see I have got nothing and still they rob me.

"There are vandals on the estate and they don't like it because I have stood up to them and told them to go away. But if I had been meek and mild I would have been done by now."

Mr Porter is now looking to be transferred from his council-owned property, which is currently without gas central heating, into a sheltered accommodation scheme.

He said: "There are people on this estate who think they are the Mafia. Well, they are not. I have worked hard all my life and now I just want to go somewhere else."

Sergeant Bob Eaton, of Accrington Police, said: "I sent PC Lisa Evans, the Community Beat Manager for Church, to speak to Mr Porter and find out the full extent of the problem.

"Now we are aware of the problem we will deal with it in our usual forthright manner. Incidents are far easier for us to deal with if we are informed of them at an early stage."