Residents watched in horror as a masked gang of thugs set upon a man who had already been stabbed in the leg and had his teeth knocked out.

The gruesome scene is just one incident that has left people in Peacock Street, Gravesend, living in fear, following a rising tide of crime and violence.

Earlier this week it was reported how police had been called following reports of "raves" and loud noise in nearby streets East Crescent Road, Harmer Street and Bentley Street.

But now residents have spoken out to explain the situation is far worse than previously reported, and that drug dealing on the street is a regular occurrence.

A woman living in flats at Alpha House in Peacock Street, said one incident in particular had left residents shaken when a man was stabbed and beaten outside the block on Wednesday June 17.

"At about 8.45pm I got a phone call from my neighbour," she said. "She had got in from work and walked in the hallway to find this guy with blood everywhere being attended to.

"He was in his 20s or early 30s. Another neighbour had seen this guy standing talking to a lady - she couldn't see that he had a knife coming out of his leg and his tracksuit was filling up with blood. The neighbour went running down to speak to the guy - he was swaying and his teeth had been knocked out.

"All of a sudden this masked gang came running over, literally over the top of cars, and started beating the guy that had been stabbed. He had already been stabbed and was being beaten up.

"He was very shaken up by it. All of us were. A neighbour that lives at the top of the block had gone out and dragged this person into our hallway.

"People were out screaming and shouting. I think he was stabbed further up the road and made his way down to us.

"Obviously it was horrible for him but it wasn't nice the following morning seeing blood up the walls - we had to call the police again to try and clean it."

On several other occasions she said residents had witnessed drug dealing in plain sight on the street, during daylight hours.

"There was a man on the wall with scales weighing drugs and there were two other people there," she added. "My neighbour took photos and sent them to police.

"I also saw two people sitting on the bench. One of the guys walked across to the bin, put a line of coke on top of the bin and sniffed it. There were children walking past and it was broad daylight.

"In the early hours of one morning I was woken up by people fighting. There were two guys and could hear one saying 'I want my money'. He was pushing the guy into the grid. On that occasion I was concerned this guy was going to hurt the other one. I looked out the window and said 'leave him alone'. I was on the phone to the police and she told me off and said get inside."

She said residents were now coming together to create a community group in an effort to support each other and bring about change.

"I've been here two years and see it all the time but it's getting worse," she added. "It's worrying. My car is has been vandalised three times and has now been written off.

"It's getting worse, 100%. It's frightening."

Inspector Craig West, from the Gravesham Community Safety Unit, said: "Gravesend residents can be assured that our officers are working hard alongside partners to ensure the town remains a safe place.

"Each day officers from a number of different teams, including plain clothed officers, carry out patrols of the town and this includes the Peacock Street area. While on these patrols, they often seek to build and maintain strong relationships with residents and nearby businesses.

"When offences do take place, they are carried out by a very small minority of people, but we do not underestimate the disproportionate impact their actions can have on the wider community and have the resources, and expertise, to ensure they are brought to justice.

"On June 17, for example, a man in his 20s sustained a stab wound following a robbery in Peacock Street. Thankfully, the victim did not sustain life threatening injuries and our officers were promptly able to identify three suspects who have been charged and are currently being held on remand ahead of future court appearances.

"We will always use the full remit of our powers to both pursue justice and work with partner agencies to prevent offences taking place. It is however vitally important that anyone with a concern, or details of an offence, reports them to us so we can build an accurate picture on an issue affecting a neighbourhood. Reports can be made through our website or by calling 101."

Police confirmed a man in his 20s has sustained a stab wound and received treatment at hospital following the an incident on Wednesday June 17.

It was reported that the victim had been robbed of two mobile phones, and a quantity of cash, by a group of men in Peacock Street, Gravesend, at 8.56pm.

Three men have since been charged with robbery and were remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday July 17.

The defendants are Selim Koldashi, 35, of Tyburn Road, Wolverhampton; Gentian Koldashi, 24, of The Doweries, Birmingham; and Herolind Kltarja, 22, of no fixed address.

All three pleaded not guilty and are due to face trial on October 4 at Maidstone Crown Court.

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