SHEER TERROR
Moment motorbike riders lurk in park before arson attack sparks EXPLOSION outside home in chilling footage
Watch the terrifying footage in the video above
CHILLING footage has captured the moment a motorbike gang sparked an explosion inches from a home.
Paul Wheeler recalled seeing a shadowy figure set fire to a motorbike from his bedroom window at 2am in a suburban area of Kent.
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The 46-year-old watched helplessly as towering flames erupted from the burning motorcycle, while his two children slept in a room just metres away
Moments later there was a loud explosion filling the air with smoke.
The terrified resident told his wife to call the police about the arson attack, which occurred at Wilmot Park.
The attack was in response to a gate that had been installed at the park's entrance, according to Paul.
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However, this wasn't the first time Paul had dealt with anti-social behaviour near his property.
We shouldn't have to live in fear
Paul Wheeler
Gangs of mostly teenagers have been causing trouble behind the dad-of-two’s house for the past four years.
These youths have been terrorising him and his neighbours with residents in the area now living in fear of the teens.
He told Sky News in an interview: "We were scared. My wife was very upset about it.
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"I've got to explain to my children why they can't go to the park and why there's a burnt-out bike in front of the gates."
Despite desperate pleas from Paul and other locals, the council rejected their request to install CCTV at the park.
Following the arson attack, the Kent resident visited the charred remains of the motorbike set on fire at the park's entrance.
The floor was littered with bits of wire, nuts, and bolts, and a nearby tree had its leaves turned rusty brown from the flames.
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Paul and other residents of suburban Kent claim their concerns about anti-social behaviour, including vandalism, public drunkenness, and noise disturbances, are not taken seriously by the police or local councils.
The 46-year-old said living with anti-social behaviour has negatively affected his mental health.
"It gives us massive amounts of anxiety and stress," he added.
"We shouldn't have to live in fear."
Paul said what he witnessed on the night of the fire still upsets him and believes that the police took too long to respond.
Kent Police told Sky News they are "aware of local concerns" and are working with Dartford Borough Council to address the issues.
In a statement, they said: "We have teams who regularly patrol the area and also have a dedicated beat officer who residents can talk to directly."
A spokesperson for Dartford Borough Council said: "In relation to Wilmot Park we will continue to respond to incidents of ASB where we have the evidence and powers to do so, and have also increased our park ranger presence in the park in recent months."
Around 35 per cent of people have experienced or witnessed forms of anti-social behaviour, according to the Survey for England and Wales, published in March.
The findings cite the cost of living crisis, social fragmentation and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as deep-rooted causes for the disruptive behaviour.
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It comes after data revealed that on-the-spot fines issued to yobs terrorising their communities fell to their lowest level last year.
And those who terrorise their neighbourhoods could be banned from social housing in England for up to five years.
One Million Incidents a Year
A landmark report conducted by Baroness Newlove, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales, revealed a failure from agencies responding to the one million incidents of anti-social behaviour every year.
- Around 63 per cent of people who reported anti-social behaviour said their problem had not been resolved, according to the report.
- The majority, more than 60%, reported it to multiple agencies.
- A whopping seven in ten victims of anti-social behaviour said they received no support at all.
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