Feud brings mob violence to Pebsham streets

A gang six of masked men brandishing baseball bats went on the rampage at a house in Seabourne Road on Tuesday after four days of high tension in the area.

They smashed doors and windows and ransacked the inside of the family home, which was empty when they struck at around 9pm.

The trouble began when police were called to a separate address at the bottom of Seabourne Road on Saturday night following an allegation of assault. Four women were arrested on assault charges and later released on police bail.

The next night officers investigated reports of prowlers in the area.

Police were called out again on Monday evening where they discovered a mob of around 30 men hanging around ominously outside Seabourne Road surgery. The group were dispersed and no offences were found to have been committed.

The trouble has created an air of fear in the area and Sgt Trish Reeve-Fowkes said all three incidents were being linked to Tuesday night's violence.

The masked gang had fled from the house on foot by the time officers arrived and a major hunt was launched involving nine police officers. The force helicopter scoured the area while dog handling teams and officers drafted in from Hastings carried out a ground search. Nobody was found.

Scene of crime officers carried out forensic examinations on the wrecked home for clues to who is responsible. Sgt Reeve-Fowkes said: "There was a tremendous amount of damage to doors, windows, furniture and personal items."

Tensions have been high in that part of Seaborne Road for a long time. Last year arsonists tried to torch a family's home.

Neighbours were too afraid to speak to the Bexhill Observer when we visited the area on Wednesday for fear of reprisals.

One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's been a very scary place to live for quite a while now but particularly bad this week. Gangs in balaclavas, mobs loitering in the streets, you don't know what's going to happen next. It's been going on for too long. There are some bad people here and we just want them out of the way."

Since Tuesday night police have maintained 24 hour patrols to provide a visible presence in the road in an attempt to reassure law-abiding residents and prevent any more trouble.

Sgt Reeve-Fowkes added: "Anyone with information on any of these incidents can talk in confidence to any Bexhill police officer by calling 0845 60 70 999 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."