Ref. 29683-07FORMER Swindon magistrate Carmel Gilmore, 89, is dismayed at the scourge of vandalism plaguing Highworth, where she has lived for 56 years.

Hooligans have smashed windows at a house on the land of her High Street home on three separate occasions in less than a week.

She said: "It's so senseless, I cannot understand it. All towns have problems with bored youngsters but the situation has suddenly got worse here."

Mrs Gilmore has lived alone for the past four years since the death of her husband, Dermot.

But now her daughter, Claire Burke, 60, and son-in-law Peter, 64, a retired brigadier, are moving in to protect the vulnerable grandmother-of-17 and great grandmother-of-four.

Mrs Gilmore served as a Swindon magistrate for 20 years, between 1965 and 1985.

She said: "I don't remember dealing with many vandals back then. The youth of today must be bored or something. It's awful."

A week last Friday youths broke windows and smashed lights in the empty house, which the Gilmores previously let to The Salvation Army to help house homeless people.

Mr Burke padlocked the gate leading to the house and boarded up the windows.

But the vandals returned last Monday and again on Thursday, shattering more glass.

Mr Burke said: "Window smashing has become a popular sport. It's like a game for them. Meanwhile elderly people are being driven hairless by this bunch. As a child, scrumping apples was my biggest crime. A stern telling off was enough to stop me doing it again."

Mrs Gilmore wants the culprits caught and punished but doesn't think locking them up is the answer.

She said: "You cannot let them get away with it. They should be deprived of things at home or fined. But they should pay the money, not their parents."

As a magistrate, Mrs Gilmore always tried to be compassionate.

She said: "I remember dealing with a 10-year-old who used to be as good as gold then suddenly he started breaking windows. I called him up to the bench and asked: 'Why?' He said: 'The woman next door stole my dad.' I could have cried."

Mrs Gilmore's property is not the only target. Windows have been broken in the empty former carpet factory in Brewery Street and lighting in the Co-op supermarket car park has been smashed. Last week, the Highworth Council Offices, in High Street, also fell prey to window smashers.

Groups of up to 20 youths, mostly boys aged between 13 and 16, loiter outside the Co-op and intimidate customers or play with trolleys. They also wreak havoc in the store, moving products around the shelves and being abusive to security staff.

Co-op spokesman Adrian Barradell said: "We have had some problems with vandalism at the store including lights smashed and groups of young people congregating outside the store.

"Although we have our own uniformed security staff we have also on occasion had to call the local police who have moved the youngsters on."

Sgt Adrian Davis, of Highworth Police, said there has been a spate of vandalism in recent weeks.

He thinks the window smashers are using small metal hammers from fire alarms to break the glass.

Sgt Davis said: "Vandalism has increased recently and we will not tolerate such anti-social behaviour. I urge anyone with information about who is responsible to contact us so we can stop it."

Anyone with information can call Sgt Davis on 01793 762251.

Victoria Tagg