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Dad’s anger as catapult-wielding yobs smash dining room window in Rogersmead, Tenterden

A furious dad has been left with a hefty bill after catapult-wielding vandals smashed his dining room window.

Matt Sendall-King says moving to Tenterden with his family in 2022 was a “dream”.

Matt Sendall-King, 47, has been left with a £350 bill after the dining room window of his house in Tenterden was smashed
Matt Sendall-King, 47, has been left with a £350 bill after the dining room window of his house in Tenterden was smashed

But the 47-year-old now has more work to do on his “project home” in Rogersmead following the incident on January 9.

He says his wife was home when she heard a loud crash just before 4pm.

“Initially, she thought a picture had fallen, but it was only when she entered the dining room that she saw the broken glass and a pebble on the floor,” said Mr Sendall-King.

“There was no reason for this. Why do kids even have catapults, which are, at the end of the day, weapons? It’s just mindless vandalism. What enjoyment are they getting from this?

“We always said if we could afford to move to Tenterden, we would, and luckily enough, we found this place. It was a bit of a project house, but it was such a lovely area, and our kids loved the bustling high street.

Matt Sendell-King’s wife heard a loud crash when the window was smashed
Matt Sendell-King’s wife heard a loud crash when the window was smashed
Despite walls and hedgerows around the home, vandals still managed to damage Matt Sendall-King's dining room window in Tenterden
Despite walls and hedgerows around the home, vandals still managed to damage Matt Sendall-King's dining room window in Tenterden

“We still think Tenterden is a nice place to live with a great community spirit, but a few people are spoiling it for the rest of us.

“I’ve seen posts online about catapults before, but you never appreciate it until it happens to you, and you’re left with a bill to pay.”

Mr Sendall-King remains concerned the attack could have seriously injured someone had it happened later in the day.

The insurance broker has now been left with a £350 bill to replace the damaged window.

A spokesman for Tenterden Town Council said the authority is “aware of instances of catapults being used to harm wildlife and damage property in the parish”.

Broken glass was scattered along the window and dining room floor
Broken glass was scattered along the window and dining room floor

“There has been a spate of vandalism through the use of catapults on properties located along the old railway track in St Michaels,” they said.

“This has caused a lot of distress to residents, and police have been made aware.

“We request if anyone witnesses youths using catapults, please report it to the police with descriptions of the individuals and not risk your safety by engaging with them directly.”

Police are currently investigating the incident, which is one of many to have been reported in the Ashford district.

Last week, a window was smashed at a home in Willesborough by catapult-wielding yobs during an evening attack.

Police are currently appealing for witnesses after the window in Rogersmead, Tenterden, was damaged
Police are currently appealing for witnesses after the window in Rogersmead, Tenterden, was damaged

Images showed the entire window had shattered at the family-of-four’s property.

In 2023, Ashford was named the county’s most prolific catapult hotspot, suffering the most reported incidents for a fifth year running after being plagued with smashed bus shelters, alongside injured and killed animals.

Anyone who witnessed the Rogersmead incident, which happened at about 3.55pm on January 9, should contact police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/5177/25.

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