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RESIDENTS in a millionaire’s row village say gangs armed with catapults, slingshots and ball-bearing guns are terrorising the area and have even shot up a funeral.

Fuming locals are fed up with the gangs of yobs torturing Godstone, a quintessentially English village in the affluent Surrey stockbroker belt.

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The village, which has a population of just 3,000, sees many living in detached houses in their own grounds worth seven figures.

But there has been a nightmare wave of attacks by youths armed with catapults which has seen people fearing for their safety.

Their chaotic spree has seen swans and other wildlife killed, windows frequently shattered and cars damaged.

Incensed residents say they have made repeated reports and eye witness statements to the police – but no arrests have been made.

One angry villager said “The police just aren’t interested – they are seemingly resigned that they can’t do anything.”

Another resident said “The police told me I could take on a perpetrator ‘if you feel like you can’.

“They admitted them getting someone here would be a two hour wait.

“At the moment it’s cars, windows and animals being targetted – how long before that changes to people? We just don’t feel safe here anymore.”

In the latest incident, mourners attending a funeral reeled in shock when their cars were hit by missiles fired from catapults.

The Rev Peter O’Connell, rector of 13th century St Nicolas parish church, said he and the mourners were targeted by thugs as the service took place.

“I came out after the funeral service and three cars including mine had windows shot out.

“Particularly for the mourners who are there to see off someone they loved – to come out and experience such damage was quite traumatic.

“We had someone fire something through one of the stained glass windows.

“It was the nativity window, they managed to take out the figure of Mary holding Jesus right at the middle of the picture.

“And there have been attempts to shoot tiles on the church roof.”

The culprits are yet to be found as cops say they tend to strike at seemingly random times of day.

But villagers are angry that police have failed spectacularly to catch anyone.

And they have lost patience with the law who have not made a single arrest.

It’s not a new crimewave – a child aged two was nearly hit by a ball bearing fired through his bedroom window while he was sleeping in July, 2018.

In December 2012, an elderly woman fell down the stairs when she tried to see what had smashed of one of her downstairs windows.

She found two small holes in her double-glazed window.One villager, who asked not to be named, said “Recently a large rock came crashing through my window, smashing the glass and narrowly missing my mother-in-law.

“It didn’t happen in the dead of night – it was just after 8am and when my four-year-old daughter was there.”

Danni Rogers from Shepperton Swan Sanctuary said ducks, swans, waterfowl and other animals are being killed from headshots.
“I have seen eyes exploded, throats cut, skulls fractured, wings damaged and broken legs.

“Worst of all, I have seen children come to feed the same creatures they have been feeding for years, only to see me pulling a dead swan out of a lake. It’s horrible.”

‘MINDLESS CRUELTY’

As well as swans and ducks being blinded and killed, pigs and even pet cats have been targeted and a tame peacock was fatally injured.

Claire Coutinho, Conservative MP for East Surrey, said “The mindless cruelty of those who have used catapults around Godstone Green is nothing short of a disgrace.

“Anyone who has any information about who might be responsible for terrorising our wonderful community should not hesitate to contact the police on 101.”

Surrey Police said “We have received reports of incidents of catapulting offences in the Godstone area.

“These have included reports of persons catapulting at birds and also catapulting at property and vehicles.

“The local team is aware of these issues, and officers have increased patrols in the local area but there is no specific peak time or day identified for when these offences typically take place, which makes it harder to target these patrols most effectively.

“We know that catapulting offences are under-reported, and we would encourage people to always report these offences, as well as any reports of people carrying catapults and suspicious behaviour, as it all helps build up a picture of what is going on in the are.

“Following a report of suspicious activity involving persons carrying a catapult, the CCTV was obtained and circulated both internally and on our Facebook page appealing for information to help us identify ID the suspects involved.

“Unfortunately, we have not been unable to identify the individuals in these images so far – if we do, we will look at any interventions which could be put in place.”

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