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A GRAN has been told off by police after she threatened to "wring the necks" of yobs who smashed her back gate in.
Gillian Mears, 70, said she "saw red" after teens damaged her garden gate at her home in Kessingland, Suffolk, on April 20.
Mears, who has four grandchildren, then chased the youths down the street in a fit of rage as her neighbours helped pursue them after the attack.
She said: "I called the police and only when I told them that if I got my hands on them I would wring their necks did they rock up.
"When they arrived they told me off for making that threat, which was not a threat it was me just venting my anger."
Mears and husband John then had to fork out hundreds to fix the gate, only for the vandals to return again and completely destroy the gate.
John, who is disabled, saw the yobs' cruel second attack and went out to confront them, only to fall over and hurt himself.
Mears said: "My husband, who is not very mobile in his old age, had a nasty fall attempting to confront them. I had to pick him off the floor and it was very distressing.
"Then to add to the misery we saw the damage to our gate which had been completely smashed in."
The couple has now spent £520 on getting the gate fixed over the two attacks.
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Now Mears says the couple are "living in fear" the yobs will return again.
She said: "Those evil kids just laughing at me and my husband makes me feel sick and full of despair with the next generation, I have no hope, their parents should be ashamed."
A Suffolk Police spokesman said: “The investigation is ongoing into the criminal damage and anti-social behaviour by a group of youths on April 20."
What to do if someone damages your gate
If you are in a similar unfortunate situation to Gillian Mears it is important to try and keep a cool head to deal with it.
Experts at DAS Law suggested people do three things if someone damages your property.
- Let you’re the person know as soon as you are aware of the damage.
- Encourage the person to report the problem to their insurer as they may have liability cover.
- Keep receipts or obtain estimates to repair the damage.
If you can, it is important to try and stay on good terms with them in an attempt to solve the issue in an efficient way.
However, if they don't play ball, going to the police with evidence of their crimes could be another avenue to get it solved.