to think the walk to the shops shouldn't be a gaunlet

[Kaloki]

..for abuse.

There's an old bloke who we've been told has mental health problems (every sympathy there, so do me and DP). However he's taken a dislike to us, specifically my DP.

Couple of days ago we had to call the police as he was shouting at DP and grabbing at his arm. Yelling at him calling him benefit scum as he'd seen him around the village and just assumed he wasn't working. When DP pointed out that he has to look after me, this idiot started yelling that I wasn't ill.

Then today DP went down the shop with him elderly mum and uncle, and got more abuse along the same lines. Yelling that he didn't deserve carers allowance (not that he gets it) as I wasn't ill.

Seems now this bloke has decided that everytime he sees DP he is going to scream and shout at him. :( This isn't a big village, so now we just don't want to go out to the shops in case he is there.

Between him and the chavs over the road (who also like to yell abuse) neither of us like leaving our small flat. Hate living like this.

Is it really too much to ask to be left alone?

Thats awful.

what have the police advised?

I'd keep a diary of the events and ring the police everytime he hassles you.

The same goes for the chavs. Are any of your other neighbours suffering like this? There is strength in numbers!

I agree with stuckinthemiddle, about keeping a diary, especially if its regular occurences with both

Do you have a mobile phone with a video camera? Some hard evidence may persuade the police to take more action.

Let him grab DP. That's assault. Hit him back. Knock the old cunt out.

very constructive, snobear

Nope, no one else, we are the only ones with piercings, tattoos and in my DP's case, a mohawk though.

We've been given a number to call to report every time he bothers us. The policeman we spoke to originally didn't think it'd happen again though.

maxine We moved to what we thought was a quiet village to avoid this kind of shit.

snobear Would prefer not to have DP assaulted.

Snobear

That's really unhelpful. The guy has mental problems, he's old too. My Dad has dementia and he's 84. If he grabbed you, would you knock him out using those words? I hope to God no-one in your family ever gets dementia, it's heartbreaking and degrading.

You know, you could possibly get in touch with your local mental health services - he may well be recieving treatment and this behavior may be a cause for concern.

That might be an idea stuck, though not sure how they would know who were are talking about. He isn't too distinctive looking