Vandals flood Horsham care home

‘VIOLATED’ care home residents were forced out of their Horsham accommodation when the living room was deliberately flooded by ‘mindless’ vandals on Sunday January 22.

More than ten elderly people had to be transported from the Suzanne Green Day Centre in Challen Court on Hamilton Road after damage valued at hundreds of pounds was caused.

Vandals destroyed gate handles to break into the garden and thrust a hose into a hole in the wall, leaving the water running overnight on Saturday January 21.

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The lounge suffered ‘inches’ of flooding, leaving the residents with no place to congregate. They were subsequently re-located by two buses to Lavinia House, in Dukes Square, across town.

Deputy manager Deborah Johnston said: “This caused mayhem.

“One of the residents heard running water on Sunday morning and saw there was inches of water in the lounge.

“It was completely flooded. Some clever person had come into the garden and put the hose into a hole in the wall - there was nowhere else for the water to go.

“What has been gained by doing that? It’s unbelievable to think someone would do such a thing - mindless vandalism.

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“They’ve broken into their grounds, you would feel violated.”

David Coghlan, scheme manager at Saxon Weald, said: “The mentality of these people is unbelievable.

“Maybe I don’t know youngsters these days, so I can’t speak for all of them, but there’s no respect for people or property.

“Personally I would love for them to be caught and made to come in and sit down in front of everybody and say ‘you’ve got to get old some time and this is all the disruption you’ve caused us’.

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“I still can’t believe that someone would do something like this.”

PC Jon Walker, of Horsham police, said: “Police are asking for anyone with information relating to the incident of criminal damage.

“The home is also used as a day centre for persons with various needs which ultimately has caused an impact on their quality of life.

“Please contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 0577 22/01/12 or alternatively call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”