Stratford father and son horrified by attack on van which smashed passenger window
A FATHER and his eight-year-old son endured a terrifying trip home when their car came under fire from a suspected air rifle in Bridge Street smashing the passenger window where the young boy was sitting.
John Delaney* from Stratford and his son, Mark, were horrified when the broken glass showered the young boy on Tuesday evening at 6.50pm last week as they drove home from the leisure centre in broad daylight through on one of the busiest streets in Stratford.
The shocking act of criminal behaviour left Mark unable to sleep that night as John explains.
“I tried to hide my anger so as not to upset Mark but unfortunately he was quite traumatised at bed time saying he was worried they would come and get him,” John said.
A huge, jagged hole is all that remained of the passenger side window on the Volkswagen Transporterwhich was temporarily sealed with cardboard until the broken window was replaced a few days later.
John - meanwhile – has his own thoughts on what happened.
He told the Herald: “I think it was an air rifle or a small rock but there was no trace of a rock in the car and you’d have to be pretty accurate to smash a car window from a roof top with a rock. We know the time was 6.50pm because my car was filmed on CCTV which I’ve not seen but the people at the control centre in town have. When it happened I went into father mode and protected my son. I pulled over and 5 to 6 people spoke to me and later the police. One other driver. One taxi driver - parked at the rank - and a couple of pedestrians. All confirming they had had things thrown at them. Mainly sweets judging by the debris on the road.”
He added: “The two PC’s that attended the incident were prompt, polite, professional and empathetic. They did an immediate check of the town CCTV which unfortunately did not capture the roof tops.”
John believes there is a risk of this behaviour having very serious consequences if it continues.
Stratford resident Cyril Bennis has called for more police on the streets. He believes a raised police profile would deter crime like that which John and his were subjected to and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
He said: “We need to get more bobbies on the beat so we can work with them and get our town back. Stratford is a living community, 24 hours a day, and the authorities have to get up to speed with how much this town has changed in the last ten years. We don’t want a sticking plaster to sort things out we need long term solutions and that’s why I’ve invited the chief constable and the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner to walk around the town with me and see things for themselves.”
A spokesperson for Warwickshire Police said: “We have a report that a man in his 40s called the police after sighting a group of youths on the roof of the buildings above WH Smiths, Bridge Street, Stratford.
Another call was made when a man, who was driving up Bridge Street, reported something hit the window of his van breaking the glass.
Investigations are underway, and if anyone has any information, we encourage them to contact us quoting incident number 319 of 6 June. Reports can be made online at www.warwickshire.police.uk/ro/report/, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
* The names of the father and son have been changed at their request to protect their identities.
