Vandals target day centre for disabled adults

Heartless vandals have targeted a day centre in Abbots Cross that provides support for adults with special needs.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Mar 2016, 09:48 BST
Updated 17th Mar 2016, 09:49 BST
Staff retrieving the bench from the field. INNT 12-801CONStaff retrieving the bench from the field. INNT 12-801CON
Staff retrieving the bench from the field. INNT 12-801CON

Staff at the Northern Trust’s Newway Centre on Abbots Road discovered the vandalism on Wednesday morning (March 16), after noticing that a bench belonging to the centre had been ripped up from the ground and thrown into a field at the back of the site.

It’s believed the vandalism at the centre, which helps people aged from 19 to people aged in their 70s, took place some time between 4pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday.

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Speaking to the Times, day care worker Jennifer Gilbert said: “We have benches here which were donated by Mencap. When we arrived in on Wednesday morning we noticed that one of the benches had been ripped from its fittings in the ground and thrown across a field at the rear of the site.

The damaged bench which had been ripped from the ground. INNT 12-802CONThe damaged bench which had been ripped from the ground. INNT 12-802CON
The damaged bench which had been ripped from the ground. INNT 12-802CON

“We have around 30 disabled people on the books of the centre and they are shocked that these incidents are happening. Last year we had a number of plant pots and windows smashed and now the users are asking why their centre is always being targeted.”

Police officers investigating this latest incident of anti-social behaviour at the Newway centre have appealed for witnesses to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.