After their minibus was beaten up by adolescents with golf clubs, a nursery director has chastised the police for their lack of action.
Norton Nursery owner Judith Crowe-Harland was shocked to see that three of the vehicle's windows had been smashed. The minibuses were used to take children from the nursery and after school club on trips.
Judith stated a witness recalls seeing youths, who were part of a gang, pounding the windows with golf clubs on Friday night, and that the onlooker reported the incident to Cleveland Police as the offence took place just after 9pm.
Judith said that she also has contacted the police force three times over the weekend about the incident. According to Judith, one call handler told her "oh it doesn't look like they have put a job on, how naughty" and another said there was no record of her speaking to anybody.
According to Judith, an officer did not approach her until the mother of one of the youths came forward.
"I contacted them three times, but they haven't actually contacted me," she stated.
"I understand they're busy and there are serious crimes and people being injured and kids at risk - I appreciate all that.
"But one phone call in 72 hours, that's all I asked for or for the enforcement people to try the camera."
The minibus was parked outside of the nursery, next door to Norton Primary School on Berkshire Road, at the time.
A member of staff from the nursery contacted Judith to tell her about the damage after noticing it on Saturday.
Judith said: "They have smashed the two back windows of the minibus and one of the side windows"
The witness reported that the gang of six offenders had only looked around 11,12 or 13 years of age, holding golf clubs.
Thankfully, local businesses have since rallied round to help her repair the damage to the minibus, estimated to be around ÂŁ1000.
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