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Disabled OAP feels isolated after car windscreen smashed by vandal in Whitstable High Street
05:00, 03 June 2024
updated: 12:26, 03 June 2024
A disabled pensioner was left shocked to discover her car had been smashed up in a busy Kent high street.
Georgina Jenkins’ Peugeot was one of three vehicles targeted in Whitstable during a random act of vandalism partially caught on camera.
The 80-year-old wheelchair user, who has Parkinson’s, says the incident has left her feeling isolated as she relies on the specially adapted car to get about and to hospital appointments.
She was alerted to the damage by her granddaughter, who noticed the windscreen of the vehicle - which was parked in a disabled bay - had been caved in.
“I can’t tell you how shocked I was when I saw the car,” said Mrs Jenkins, who ran a bed and breakfast called Copeland in the town for many years.
“It's really affected me because I can't get out at all without the car.
“It has ruined my ability to get to important hospital visits and I feel very isolated.
“It was just parked round the corner from my house in a really good spot that has a disabled bay, so I didn't think I'd have to worry.
“It's really difficult being limited like this.”
The grandmother-of-four says the incident has left her feeling less safe, given the car was left in such a prominent town centre spot.
“We've parked it there loads of times before and it's always been fine,” she said.
“You don't expect things like this to happen in Whitstable and they don't happen that often.”
“It was shocking to see the video, there was so much anger there.”
Some of the vandalism spree was caught on camera by a restaurant worker who started filming after seeing a man smash Mrs Jenkins’ windscreen.
The footage shows him stumbling along the high street before he begins striking car windows with an unidentified object.
Another clip shared online appears to show the same man physically restraining a woman.
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed they are investigating the incident.
They said: “Officers were called to Whitstable High Street at about 9.45pm on Sunday, May 26, following reports of a disturbance between a man and a woman.
“Officers attended and no one was located.
“Kent Police has subsequently received a report that two vehicles were damaged during the disturbance, one in the High Street and the other in Regent Street. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
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