Malvern man fed up after years of anti-social behaviour

Karl Bicknell has had his flat wrecked by vandals, his windows smashed and graffiti sprayed on his walls and windows.

Mr Bicknell, who lives in Orchid Court, Poolbrook, said: “I’ve been putting up with this for several years.

“In one incident, somebody tried to break into my flat late one night by picking the lock with a tiny screwdriver - and ended up breaking the lock,” he said.

Police say they have attended multiple incidents of anti-social behaviour in Orchid Close (Image: NQ)

“I’ve regularly had people ringing my bell late at night - 12am, 1am - and when I get up there’s no-one there.

“Once, there were people saying they were armed police and shining torches in my face - in the end I realised what was going on and told them to **** off.”

Mr Bicknell said the incidents, which have been going on for several years, are taking a toll on him.

“This is affecting my sleep, my appetite, my motivation. The problems keep recurring and every time I have to go through this whole process again.

READ MORE: Malvern police target antisocial behaviour concerns at home

“It all gets rather overwhelming - and this is just some of what has been happening.”

Mr Bicknell said the latest incident happened only a week or so ago.

“They shoved a sofa cushion through an open window, damaging items in the house,” he said.

“Last year I had windows smashed, a stone thrown through the window, and graffiti outside the window.

“It has made me physically ill - I have COPD [a lung condition], which I’m trying to come to terms with, and I’ve been in hospital more than in my entire life.

In one incident, Mr Bicknell's bathroom window was smashed (Image: NQ)

“I don’t want to be a victim and be phoning the police and Platform Housing all the time. I want to get on with my life.”

Sgt Geraint Perkins, the safer neighbourhood sergeant for Malvern, said: “Over the past 18 months, there have been some reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in and around Orchid Court but the Pickersleigh Safer Neighbourhood Team have been robust in dealing with this in order to deter those causing issues for others.

“We have worked with partner agencies to tackle issues and as a policing team we have utilised Community Protection Notices against those we identify as negatively affecting the community.

“We have also utilised Risk Management Plans to support victims of crime and safeguard vulnerable persons against further issues. The team will continue to patrol the area and will deal with matters as and when they present.”