UPDATE: Horsham man left ‘sickened’ by ‘sinister’ tyre-slashing

A Horsham man has been left ‘sickened’ and his girlfriend is fearful of leaving the house after both his and her cars were targeted in a ‘sinister’ tyre-slashing on Halloween.
JPCT 041113 Tyres damaged. David Watts showing the damaged tyres on his car. Photo by Derek MartinJPCT 041113 Tyres damaged. David Watts showing the damaged tyres on his car. Photo by Derek Martin
JPCT 041113 Tyres damaged. David Watts showing the damaged tyres on his car. Photo by Derek Martin

The incident, which took place between him returning from buying festive treats at 7pm and the following morning (Friday November 1), meant he could not visit his 80-year-old mother at the weekend.

David Watts, 47, a Horsham-based company director, of Worthing Road, initially took the flat tyres to be a ‘Halloween prank’ but now suspects a more ‘sinister’ motive.

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“It was only when I saw they had slashed her tyres that I was really sickened,” he said.

“I don’t think trick or treaters slashed them, I think it’s something more sinister as a motive.”

Mr Watts explained that his girlfriend, Sylva Le Boeuf, who works shifts as a make-up artist at Gatwick, has ‘lost her confidence’ when leaving and returning to their home.

“She’s worried about walking on her own driveway now which is ridiculous,” he said.

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Sylva had had her new BMW 1-series for a few weeks before its ‘run-on-flat’ tyres - which are designed to have thicker sides than regular tyres- were punctured.

David added two men attempted to burgle a nearby house in the summer but were averted by a house alarm.

After the tyre-slashing Mr Watts had to explain to his 80-year-old mother that both their cars’ tyres had been slashed after arranging to visit her on the weekend.

He said: “I had to explain to her why I couldn’t go to her in the weekend.

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“My mum offered to help me for the tyres because she was worried about the cost.”

David said £770 worth of damage was caused and he is having a £2,000 CCTV system with night-vision cameras installed at his home this weekend.

“I shouldn’t have to do that just to protect my property,” he said.

He has distributed around 30 flyers appealing for information on the Halloween incident. To contact him about the incident, call 07742 000562.

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