Old folk terrorised

ELDERLY and disabled Peacehaven residents were afraid to leave their homes during Christmas when gangs of hooligans ran amok causing damage and hurling abuse.

Yobs targeted people in the Ashington Gardens area. Peacehaven Town Council member Reigna Mitchell said: 'They caused an awful lot of damage.

'It is partly sheltered housing and the residents are either elderly or disabled. Some of them are now scared stiff to come out because of the antics and the abuse they receive.

She added: 'Rubbish and dog bins have disappeared, there is graffiti on the end of one bungalow. The grass has been ripped up where the kids went around the scout hut and took some barrels that had been cut in half and used them as sledges.

Police also received reports of youths riding motor bikes between bungalows and throwing stones at homes.

New Seahaven Division Police Inspector Mark Huff said he would not tolerate the youths actions. He planned to combine officers from Newhaven and Seaford police stations to tackle problems at crime hotspots.

Videotape

He said: 'With the help of officers from Seaford I am looking at anti-social problems. If it needs 10 officers in a particular area were there is a recurring problem with disobedience that is what I will do.

'We will be looking at anti-social behaviour in Peacehaven and dealing with this problem in a positive way.

Police also intend to videotape young lawbreakers so their parents could be shown their behaviour.

The Inspector added: 'I also want to put the emphasis on parents. They need to ask themselves, what are their children doing? Are they terrorising elderly residents?