Doctors living in fear (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Doctors living in fear

2:26pm Friday 25th April 2008

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TWO retired doctors say their lives have been made a misery by a gang of yobs who terrorise their village.

Dr Louise Allard, 57, and her husband Dr Anthony Clarke, 63, say they are sworn at when leave home in Market Place, Colerne, and they fear for their safety.

They have now put spikes on top of the 10ft wall around the property to stop the teenagers getting into their garden.

The couple, retired rheumatologists who worked at the Bath Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, want police to clamp down on a gang called Mercenary Crew who leave the tag CMC Rules Ok on buildings.

Dr Allard, who needs anti-depressants to get through the day, said: "We endure verbal abuse and jeers every time we go out of the front door.

"They climb over the 10ft wall and mess around with the property in the garden."

Her husband said: "You would have thought we deserve more respect than we are getting from this group of youths."

The gang, believed to have formed three years ago, are suspected of vandalism in several parts of the village.

Paint has been thrown on a slide in Martin's Croft Park and bins have been ripped off walls.

Dr Allard claims they have broken into sheds at Colerne Primary School and smashed the windows of the Wendy houses.

She said they broke into a recently-vacated parish house smearing their tag on the walls.

The couple believe most of the village know the youths responsible.

They are also thought to be behind the damage to Colerne's recently-refurbished public toilets.

North Wiltshire District Council has been forced to close the toilets after spending £1,500 on repairs in the last year.

Glenys Gill, clerk of Colerne Parish Council, said: "I have spoken to Dr Allard about her concerns and it is something we really want the police to help us with.

"We have quite a lot of damage in Colerne and many people suspect a group of youths, but until we have any direct witnesses for the incidents, there is nothing the police can do."

Police are now to meet councillors to discuss the problems.

Sgt Steve McGrath said: "I have spoken to Dr Allard and have reassured her that we are making Colerne our priority in the coming weeks."

"Our community beat manager for Colerne, Julie Dickson, is making a lot of progress targeting youths in the village."

Dr Clarke said the gang is a small minority.

"There are a lot of children living in this village and most of them are very well behaved," he added.

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