Toilet cleaner attacked twice in one day in Margate
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by Karina Barker
A council workman was
assaulted twice in one day - because the toilets he was cleaning
were closed after vandalism.
The 69-year-old man was
cleaning the public toilets at Cecil Street, Margate on Thursday
morning when the attacks occurred.
The men’s toilets had been
put out of action the night before after a toilet roll dispenser
was set alight, badly damaging a cubicle.
At around 8.30am on Thursday,
the cleaner was approached by a man who wanted to use the
toilets.
When he told him they were
shut the man pushed the workman in the chest and walked
off.
About two hours later, at
around 10.30am, a different man tried to use the
toilets.
When he too was told they
were closed, he punched the workman in the chest and went in to use
them anyway.
The first man was in his 50s,
slim, unshaven with dark hair.
He was wearing a red ski hat,
grubby jeans and a puffa-style jacket.
The second man was described
as being in his late 20s, of a big build, with gelled, slicked-back
hair.
He was wearing a leather
jacket and spoke with a foreign accent.
PC Philip Wright,
investigating, said: "We are keen to trace both offenders as this
behaviour is not acceptable.
"People should be allowed to
go about their work without fear of verbal or physical
abuse."
Councillor Alan Poole, Thanet
District Council Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, said: "I’m
absolutely appalled by this unprovoked attack on a workman just
doing his job trying to get these toilets ready for use.
"To be attacked in this way,
by a member of the public, must have been terrifying and is totally
unacceptable. If anyone has any information about this incident,
I’d urge them to contact the police."
Anyone with information is
asked to phone Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800
555111 quoting crime number ZY/3160/12.
Numerous incidents of
vandalism in public toilets have been reported across Thanet in the
last year.
The facilities are often
closed for several weeks and cost thousands of pounds to
repair.
Monday, February 06 2012
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