‘I’ve not seen anything like it in 40 years in Stapleford’: Victim of vandals speaks out

Video: David Shepherd walks through some of the latest damage at Shepherd Motors.

A car dealer says he’s experiencing some of the worst vandalism seen in Stapleford for decades after his cars were repeatedly smashed with bricks.

David Shepherd has been coming in to work at Shepherd Motors, on Bessell Lane, to find wing mirrors broken, windows smashed and bodywork kicked in “two or three times a week” since mid-November.

David says that more than 20 of his cars have been damaged, and five or six of them have had to be scrapped due to the damage being “beyond repair”.

But David says that he doesn’t believe the perpetrators have anything personal against him, instead saying the vehicles are being damaged as part of a growing crime problem in Stapleford.

The attacks are the worst he’s heard or seen in 40 years of living Stapleford, he says.

“It’s cost at least £10,000 let alone loss of earning because we’ve not been able to do our job properly which is costing even more money…quite a few people have witnessed it,” he said.

Inspector Steve Wragg, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We received a report of criminal damage which happened at Shepherd Motors in Bessell Lane, Stapleford, between 3.17pm and 3.33pm on Thursday, January 4.

“It was reported that damage was caused to a car window and door. Our enquiries are ongoing. Officers have engaged with the victim and offered advice.

“Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 348 of 7 December, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”