Risborough landowner hit by 'anti-Gypsy' graffiti attack (From Bucks Free Press)

Risborough landowner hit by 'anti-Gypsy' graffiti attack

5:40pm Monday 29th June 2009 in

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A LANDOWNER fears she is being targeted by thugs who have 'mistakenly connected' her to the Hemley Hill travellers after her property was graffitied with 'obscene anti-Gypsy messages'.

Lorna Brooks arrived at her Hemley Hill Farm, which is adjacent to the travellers site in Upper Icknield Way, on Thursday morning to find the land's fencing tagged with racist comments.

Nine traveller families moved onto the Green Belt land over the Easter holidays, flouting planning laws and carrying out 'unauthorised construction' on the site to the outrage of residents.

Mrs Brooks, who lives in Chinnor, said her daughters Alice and Christina were in 'floods of tears' when they saw the vandalism – which she called the work of 'mindless morons'.

She said: “We have worked in and lived around Princes Risborough for more than 40 years, so I wanted to clear it up 100 per cent that we have nothing to do with the travellers site in the field next door.

“We understand the anger and outrage of local residents but we cannot understand how vandalising a neighbouring property will help.

“This action by mindless morons who cannot tell the difference between a field of ponies and a field of caravans will only upset nearby residents further.

“The graffiti is extremely offensive and racist, and when my daughters came up here to ride the horses and saw the damage, they were absolutely devastated and hurt.

“It's very quiet out here, so it's frighting to think that someone has been here and violated your property. We have animals here as well, it's scary.”

Contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 850 5505, or, alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.