A COUNCILLOR has had his window smashed for the second time in a month – in what he believes is a targeted campaign in retaliation for his outspoken views on antisocial behaviour and off-road bikers.

Darlington Borough Councillor Kevin Nicholson was woken in the very early hours of this morning by the sound of his dining room window being put out and neighbours going out into the street to see what had happened.

The culprit was caught on CCTV riding a bike up to Cllr Nicholson’s front garden in Firth Moor, at about 12.30am this morning, before running across the lawn and throwing a scaffolding clamp through the glass.

Cllr Nicholson said he is “100 per cent sure” that the incident, along with a similar attack and an off-road biker driving towards him and shouting homophobic abuse earlier this month, are designed to stop him standing up against antisocial behaviour.

He said: “I woke up thinking, what’s going on?

“It is scary, it leaves you panicky but I won’t stop speaking up for my community.

“I am 100 per cent sure it is targeted retaliation for mine and the council’s stance on antisocial behaviour, particularly off-road bikes, and the police accept it is a targeted campaign.

“Every time I’m outspoken on these issues I’ve had some sort of retaliation within days, hours in fact.

“As the cabinet member responsible for council housing, I believe council housing is brilliant and it is a privilege because we are a fantastic landlord.

"But if you are abusing the community with crime and antisocial behaviour the council will start the process of evicting you.

“I announced that recently and immediately got backlash, and someone tried to run me off the road as I walked down Westminster Road and I took my headphones out to hear them shouting ‘gay f***er’.

“They are trying to target an elected member but I’m continuing to speak up for residents. ”

The Northern Echo:

As angry as he is about the vandalism and other incidents, Cllr Nicholson said he was also upset that it took Durham police more than nine hours to send an officer to his property - despite the force promising he is a priority due to the repeated attacks he has endured in recent weeks.

This isn’t just about me, this is about public confidence.

The Northern Echo:

He said: “My neighbours were out and had rang the police, I did the same a number of times, but it was hours before they sent someone out.

“The 101 call system isn’t fit for purpose, people are telling me all the time it can take 15, 20 sometimes 30 minutes to get through.

“This isn’t just about me, this is about public confidence.

“If people cannot get a timely response from the police about the matters that affect them they are going to stop calling and that is what gives these people the confidence to commit these acts and feel they can get away with it.”

Cllr Nicholson has previously met with a senior police officer and Durham's recently-elected Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who did contact him this morning following the vandalism.

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