Yobs slash elderly woman's trousers on washing line in Edinburgh sheltered housing scheme

The resident's trousers were cut up while on the washing line

VULNERABLE residents have told of enduring years of torment at the hands of mindless yobs in their suburban street.

They said cars and homes have been vandalised in Bingham Avenue while a disabled man’s house was broken into as he sat in his living room.

Vandals even dug up one woman’s garden at the sheltered housing and cut-up the clothes of another while they were out on her washing line.

“It’s like living in a madhouse,” said Maryanne Brown, 63. “For me, I’m beyond caring, I’ve already gone through the grinder.

“I just want to get the hell away from this place - it’s a nightmare.”

PTSD and ME sufferer Ms Brown had her windows smashed within weeks of moving in three years ago.

Mindless yobs then returned to smash tiles on the roof at the rear of her bungalow and even dug up her front garden.

“It has cost me my health, which has gone to hell,” she said. “Since I moved into this property, I’ve started with incredible anxiety, so much so I’m on beta blockers for my heart and high blood pressure.

“They smashed my windows, ripped off my roof and even dug up my garden - it’s like living in a war zone.”

Ms Brown has now put wire mesh over her windows and barbed wire and spikes around her home in a bid to keep out the vandals.

Ian Calder, 43, said: “It’s a deprived area and there’s nothing for the kids - just a swing park.

“I’m born and bred and there used to be a community centre but there’s nothing like that now.

“One person got their mobility car smashed up and as soon as he got it fixed, they did it again.

“There’s a guy with no legs in a wheelchair and they broke into his place and started rifling through his stuff while he was sat in the living room.”

Yobs even slashed the clothes of an elderly woman, who since died, while they were on her washing line.

Another 50-year-old resident said: “We’re living in fear. We keep trying to get moved by the council but they just say we’re adequately housed.”

A 72-year-old neighbour said: “We’ve asked for CCTV and for the police to patrol at night. We see them during the day but not at night.”

Police Scotland appealed for anyone witnessing vandalism attacks in the area to contact officer on 101.

Housing officers considered installing CCTV but deemed it unviable while tenants’ community alarms were installed to call for help if they ever feel unsafe.

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said: “Vandalism and antisocial behaviour can be devastating for our tenants and for the whole community. We work closely with our partners at the Police and will continue to do so to make sure Bingham remains a safe and welcoming place for its residents.

“Already, we’ve changed the fencing around our sheltered housing to deter trespassers, we’ve painted back walls with vandal-proof paint to discourage people from climbing and we’ve invested in improved outdoor lighting.”