Ref. 28246-57A PENSIONER whose bedroom windows have been peppered with air gun pellets says he fears for his safety.

Dennis Richens' Gorse Hill flat has been shot at three times in the past week, leaving three holes and cracks in the windows.

On each occasion the 65-year-old was asleep in the room when the shots were fired and did not hear anything.

But he is worried that if the sniper strikes again he might be hit by one of the pellets or injured by broken glass.

"It's dangerous, and it could blind me if I got hit in the eye," said Mr Richens, who has lived in the second floor flat in St Mary's Grove since 1988.

"There are gaping big holes in the upstairs front room windows.

"They have made such a mess of them I'll have to get the landlord to take them out.

"If they shoot any more holes the window will fall in."

The first shot was fired on the night of December 4. Mr Richens noticed a hole in the window when he woke the following morning and called the police.

An officer paid him a visit on Sunday evening and said the police would investigate the incident.

But that night the sniper shot another hole through the window. And a third attack followed on Wednesday night.

"I didn't hear anything at the time but there are now holes as big as thumbnails in my window," said Mr Richens.

"The rain is getting through the holes and soon the cold and damp will get in."

Mr Richens said he was intending to fix the holes with plywood as a temporary measure and would be sleeping in a different room until the attacks stopped.

This is not the first time the former railway worker has been intimidated. About a month ago a butcher's knife was put through his letterbox.

Swindon Police deal with hundreds of incidents of air gun pellets breaking windows each year.

Sergeant Charlie Arm-strong said air guns were dangerous and several people had died after being hit by pellets in the UK this year.

"It is illegal to fire airguns beyond the boundaries of private property," she said.

"And the guns should not be used by children under 14 without adult supervision."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attacks.

Anyone with information should call 01793 528111, quoting reference 118/051203.