A FATHER says his wife and young family have been forced to flee their Huddersfield home by vandals and thieves.
The final straw came when yobs threw stones through his kitchen windows last week - ironically in an area which was at the centre of a week-long police blitz and council clean-up at the time.
Ian Craven, 38, has lived on Bradley Boulevard at Brackenhall for seven years.
He says that in that time says he has had five burglaries and his windows have been smashed about nine times.
He says he has no idea why youths are targeting him and does not know who they are.
He was watching TV at 9.30pm last Tuesday when a stone came through the kitchen window with such force it hit the wall and smashed tiles.
That was enough for his wife, Samantha, who has gone to stay with relatives and taken the couple's three-year-old daughter, Mia, and three- month-old son, Louis, with her.
The yobs were back again at 10pm on Wednesday night and hurled another stone through the kitchen window.
Police responded quickly, but the vandals had fled.
Then when a workman arrived to board up the broken window the yobs had returned and were hurling stones at Mr Craven's back door.
The workman refused to carry on his job until the yobs had been sorted out.
Mr Craven said he phoned the police again and although the operator said officers were on their way, none arrived.
He said: "There has been a high-visibility police presence in this area during the day and evenings, but the problems have happened when they have gone.
"It was all too much for my wife. She was literally shaking after the stone came through the window."
Mr Craven said there is a dark, unlit footpath behind his home and the attackers have used bricks and rocks from a building site there.
Sgt Mick Semenczuk, of Kirklees Police, said officers had been to see Mr Craven.
A spokeswoman for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing said: "We're very sorry Mr Craven is having to deal with what must be a very upsetting situation.
"Unfortunately his house is next to a ginnel which is currently being used by a small group of young people who are causing problems in the area.
"Mr Craven has reported problems to us.
"But without any idea of who's causing the trouble we can't follow it up with them or their families," the spokeswoman added.
"However, we've installed CCTV cameras in the area and as soon as we can identify specific individuals we will take action.
"We are also working closely with the police to try to resolve the situation.
"In the meantime, Mr Craven's windows will be repaired as soon as we get the new units from the manufacturer."
Anyone with information about who is behind the attacks or burglaries should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Alternatively, ring the Huddersfield police helpdesk on 01484 436659.
