A HOMEWATCH champion believes his neighbourly actions may have sparked a vendetta on his home.

Derek Haslam, of Leatham Close, Oakwood, woke on Monday morning to find his house daubed in paint and his car damaged. He reported the incident and the housing association cleaned away the graffiti, but just 12 hours later the vandals had struck again.

"There was graffiti all over the walls," said Derek, "and my porch was covered in paint.

"They had written 'die grass' in huge letters and slashed my car tyres. On Tuesday, the graffiti was cleaned, but on Wednesday morning it was back again."

Derek, who walks with the aid of a stick and suffers from a heart problem and breathing difficulties, is the local Homewatch co-ordinator and thinks that his neighbourly actions may have sparked the attacks.

"We had problems in the area with youths breaking into meter cupboards and cutting off people's electricity," he said.

"I reported the incidents and then this trouble started. They don't frighten me but one woman I know is terrified."

Derek says he has a good idea who is behind the attacks, but the police cannot take action without proof.

"Most people round here are too frightened to speak out," he added.

"Why is society like this? I'm determined to stand up to them. I want to know why they are doing this."

Oakwood has been plagued by gangs of youths for many years and residents and councillors have even considered installing CCTV to try to catch the culprits on camera. In an incident last year, shoppers were shot at by youths brandishing an air rifle and the buildings at Oakwood Mount were regularly vandalised.

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