We used to love living on our pleasant street – but now it’s a crime-ridden hellhole and we’re scared of our neighbours
RESIDENTS living on a crime-ridden road say they are so scared of their neighbours they avoid speaking to anyone.
Patrick Street in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was once a pleasant place to live but it has "deteriorated" so much over the years locals now do anything they can to stay out of trouble.
They refuse to engage with other members of the community and "keep themselves to themselves" in an attempt to live worry-free.
But their homes are still repeatedly vandalised by yobs in the area - and they say the police do little to help.
Wendy Aisthorpe, who has lived in the neighbourhood all her life, told : "It's terrible.
"It used to be nice and posh around here. There was no crime and everybody owned their houses.
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"It was only when they built Peaks Parkway that they all became council houses and it's just deteriorated.
"There's always something going on, there's always police around.
"The back of my house is a state, it's disgusting. It's really sad."
Wendy said the most recent attacks saw her front window smashed and her partner's motorbike stolen.
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Shards of broken glass were littered across the pavement underneath a door which appeared to have been kicked in.
Decorator Wayne Tucker, who used to live on the street but has since moved away, has witnessed similar horrors.
He said a now-derelict house looked "really, really nice" two years ago but "all of a sudden it was trashed".
"It's horrible," Wayne added. "That's why I moved out of town."
A third neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, described Grimsby as "an unforgiving place" where he is forced to keep to himself.
"I lived away for a while down south and then I moved back and it's still the same as ever," he added.
"It's a lot more friendly down there."
Humberside Police urged anyone with information about the latest incident on October 18 - in which three people allegedly smashed the windows and doors of a property - to come forward quoting log 336.
NEIGHBOURHOOD CRIME
As of 2022, the crime rate in Grimsby is 62 per cent higher than the East Midlands generally, and 75 per cent higher than the national figure.
It is the most dangerous major town in Lincolnshire, and among the top 10 most dangerous major towns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The most commonly reported crime within 250 metres (820ft) of Patrick Street is violence and sexual offences.
This is followed by criminal damage and arson, anti-social behaviour and public order.
(Source: crimerate.co.uk)
