Leigh Park pensioner, 76, threatened with an iron bar after youths 'terrorise' his home for more than six months

Peter Haines, of Hordle Drive in Leigh Park, Havant, said has endured ‘countless’ sleepless nights caused by as many as 10 youths throwing shingle, rocks, and bricks at his home since March.

Last month saw the harassment occur across five consecutive nights during one week and culminated in a brick being hurled at the windscreen of the pensioner’s van.

Now the Leigh Park resident says he is living in fear after two youths threatened him as he left his house.

The 76-year-old said: 'It's terrifying – I'm like a prisoner in my own home.

‘I'm scared to go out and come back to find them here.

‘I don’t know why they are picking on me – I think it’s maybe because where my house is allows them to run off in lots of different directions.’

The fire-safety engineer was in his front garden when two teenagers on electric scooters pulled up and began harassing him – with one leaving only to return with a iron bar.

Peter’s partner, Debbie Darling, said: ‘The language was unbelievable. It was absolutely terrifying.’

Reports of the incidents on a community Facebook page have led to support from some members of the community, with Peter believing that several other residents in the area being targeted by persistent anti-social behaviour.

He said: ‘A lot of people have been very, very friendly - we've had a security guard patrol around the area in evening and another person has given me a camera to install on the house.’

But a councillor for the ward has said no-one else has come forward to report an increase in criminal behaviour.

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Councillor Pamela Crellin said: ‘As far we know, it’s not a wider issue in the area.’

A 14-year-old and 15-year-old boy, both from Havant, have been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour, according to a spokeswoman from Hampshire Constabulary.

The spokeswoman said: ‘Officers investigating anti-social behaviour and threats of violence made against a man have arrested two boys.

‘The arrests come after we received a report of threats being made to a man in Hordle Road, Havant, just after 2pm on September 1.

‘Both have been released on bail and enquiries are ongoing.’

‘All reports of incidents are reviewed daily by local teams, and these help to form a picture of what is occurring in the area and help us to ensure we are targeting patrols.’

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