We just can't go on like this

The 83-year-old survived the horrors of the Burmese jungle in World War Two and was badly injured later in Korea.

But now he faces a new battle against youngsters whose freedom he fought to protect.

Things have got so bad that Les and his 73-year-old partner Clytie Skinner who is blind want to leave their home in Newburgh Place, Highworth.

Recently, Les suffered a black eye after a yob hurled a stone at him.

The great grandfather doesn't blame the police they are doing their best, he says.

The problem is that other neighbours are failing to back local officers who want to take out a dispersal order.

Les was one of just two people who returned a police questionnaire about the problems earlier this month.

Evidence from residents is key to getting the orders authorised.

Now, police want locals to name the louts and report problems on the Adver-backed It's Your Call crime hotline.

And Les who served with the Royal Army Service Corps for 13 years is backing their request.

"We just can't carry on like this, it's terrifying for my partner," he said.

"The police need this order to break them up."

Up to 30 youths some as young as 12 regularly congregate outside the shops in Newburgh Place at night.

A dispersal order would mean police could break up the gangs.

And unaccompanied youths under 16 could be frogmarched home after 9pm.

Besides having to put up with noise and foul language, residents living around the shops have had eggs hurled at their windows.

The louts also kick footballs at homes, tip over plant pots and run riot in gardens.

If anyone complains, they are met with a torrent of abuse or even physical threats.

Les received his black eye after confronting a group outside his home.

On another occasion, Les' Army training came in useful.

"I politely asked them to move on, and one grabbed a cane and came at me," he said.

"I grabbed a heavy walking stick I keep in the hallway and used it like a bayonet, which scared them off."

The louts are also terrorising two grandparents who care for their seven-year-old granddaughter, who has cerebral palsy.

They have also asked to be re-housed by Swindon Council.

"Our granddaughter needs constant care, and we only get respite when she goes to bed," said her the girl's grandfather, who asked not to be named.

"But we can't because of the harassment."

Dispersal orders have been successful in tackling yob culture in several parts of Swin-don.

Sergeant Max Sharman, of Highworth police, called on the community to help.

"I am very disappointed at the number of questionnaires sent back," he said.

"They are anonymous and are crucial to getting this order. We can't do this unless the community helps us."

Catalogue of problems

Newburgh Place is not the first area of Highworth to be blighted by yobs.

On Friday, police caught a gang of louts trying to steal garden furniture from Grove Hill Residential Home. Officers marched the gang back, and made them replace the benches and tables.

Last month, the Adver reported how gangs were causing problems by hanging around outside the library.

In the same month, a window was smashed at a funeral directors.

It was the third time the business was targeted.

At Christmas, the town was dismayed when a nativity crib was stolen from a pensioner's garden.

In October, St Michael's Church announced plans to install CCTV following problems in the churchyard.

In September, rival gangs clashed in Swindon Street in a late night brawl. The council is installing CCTV in the street because of persistent problems.

Earlier in the year, the then town mayor Ken Poulton called for a night time curfew on under-16s.

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