Disabled man living in fear

4:10pm Friday 3rd October 2008

Comments (13)   Have your say »

THE sister of a disabled man who is being tormented by children on the Longfield estate in Trowbridge wants police to take more action against the youngsters.

Rosalind Star, 42, says her 60-year-old brother Chris Winfield, who has the mental age of a child, is chased by children who call him names whenever he steps outside his home.

In the latest incident last Wednesday, she said Mr Winfield, who lives in a Sovereign Housing Association-owned flat in Sheepcote Barton , fled to her house in tears after suffering a torrent of abuse.

Mrs Star said: "When he comes out of his flat they throw stones and call him names. At night time they throw things at his windows and try and get him to come out.

"I had to go down and pick him up last Wednesday and he was crying his eyes out. He couldn't even go down to our sister's house on the same road he was so scared.

"There must be something someone can do - these kids just take the mick."

Mrs Star and her sister have both tried to talk to the children and their parents about their behaviour, but say they get verbal abuse when they do so.

Three weeks ago Mrs Star took her brother away to Weymouth for four days for a break because the situation was getting him down.

She added: "He doesn't feel safe in his own place. They steal his post, throw stones at the window, chase him. But if he retaliated, he would be the one in trouble.

"He is on the verge of moving out - we are just waiting for him to get into a warden-controlled place."

Mrs Star said she would also like to see a greater police presence on the estate.

Inspector Dave Cullop, of Trowbridge police, said: "The family reported this incident to us on Friday and we have had one previous report of this type of incident before then, which was at the beginning of August.

"That incident was kids calling him names and no-one could provide any other details or names.

"The Longfield NPT are aware of the issue and it will form part of their response to the other issues on that estate, where we are deploying additional patrols as well as there being a multi-agency response going on too.

"If anyone is aware of the identity of any youngsters who are behaving in an anti-social manner, particularly young people who are picking on a vulnerable person, then we need to know. We need more information and specifics."

l ANOTHER residents' group in Trowbridge has written to the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police to complain about a lack of police support on the estate it represents.

Studley Green Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) decided to write to Brian Moore at a meeting on Tuesday night.

It follows an article in last week's Wiltshire Times, which reported how Longmeadow TARA had written to the Chief Constable complaining of similar problems.

During this week's meeting there were complaints over anti-social behaviour in a children's play area on the estate and concern expressed over the levels of policing.

District and town councillor Jeff Osborn, who attended the meeting, said: "There is the same concern that the Neighbourhood Policing Teams are not now operating anywhere near as effectively.

"Each NPT is meant to have a Police Constable and two PCSOs. It seems that some are down to just one PCSO."

Insp Cullop said: "The level of anti-social behaviour on Studley Green remains low. The staff on that area are the same as they have always been."