Bearwood residents 'living in fear' after death threats and attacks in street
'Helpless' residents have told how they are living in fear after receiving death threats, watching a woman forced to flea her home after being attacked and seeing a father assaulted in the middle of their Black Country road.
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Neighbours on Abbey Road in Bearwood say they are furious that West Midlands Police has not charged anyone over the attacks - despite being shown video evidence and with officers acknowledging that two assaults occurred.
WMP has told the Express & Star that its investigation into the incidents is ongoing.
After months of complaining about low level anti-social behaviour, including parcels being stolen, cats being kidnapped and threatening letters being sent, from residents in one house, the situation escalated into violence weeks ago.
The new owners of a property said they were sent letters complaining about noise and the behaviour of their two year old child.
Then, on November 21, they said that two men and two women surrounded the young mother.
The mother said: “It was terrifying, I screamed for help.”
She told how residents ran out of their homes after hearing her screams and saw her being chased towards her front door by the men and women.
The terrified woman, who does not want to be named, reported the incident to the police.
She claims that officers advised her to leave the area for her own safety while they dealt with the case.
She was then sent an email from Sandwell Police informing her there would be no charges brought in relation to the alleged threats and assault.
Residents still living in the street have told how they then received sinister warnings and threats.
Richard Bardsley said his 18 year-old daughter was threatened after she parked outside a house.
He told how he urged the perpetrators to stay away from the teenager.
Mr Bardsley claims that he was then assaulted and that the incident was captured on Ring Doorbell footage which he has shown to the Express & Star.
Mr Bardsley can be heard screaming in the clip: "Call the police. What are you spraying me with."
The woman can then be seen returning to the garden and picking up an object.
Mr Bardsley called police who arrested suspects.
He said that police later told him that there would be no further action taken, leaving residents feeling “helpless”.
Mr Bardsley said: "We are all scared of what will happen next. We all feel so helpless."
Sandwell Police confirmed there had been two assaults on Abbey Road, which is classified by police as Smethwick, but no charges had been brought.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We were called on 21 November to reports of an assault on Abbey Road, Smethwick. A woman was assaulted and threatened.
"Our enquiries are ongoing and safeguarding is in place.”
Regarding the attack on Mr Bardsley, the police said: "In a separate incident, two men, aged 27 and 52 were arrested after an assault on Abbey Road, Smethwick on November 29. Following further enquiries and a thorough investigation, the men were released without charge.
"An investigation is never closed and any new information that we receive will be investigated."
An email sent to the woman by a WMP officer said: “I can only apologise and appreciate your frustrations, however, both assault reports will now be filed."
The woman said: “If West Midlands Police's idea of safeguarding is telling someone to leave their own home and then ignore them, then I guess they are safeguarding me.”
The police confirmed that residents on the road had concerns, a spokesman said: "We understand there is some concern around these incidents and we are working with the community to address any issues. We encourage people to report any threatening and aggressive behaviour to us by calling 101.”
The Express & Star visited the house where the complaints have been directed.
The man who lives there admitted he was “hyper-sensitive” to noise, even telling the reporter to lower his voice.
He, however, denied the assaults.
He said: “We had 55 days of partying and noise when our new neighbours moved in. It is their option not to move back. I was not aggressive, the police said I did nothing wrong.
“We have never had problems with people in this neighbourhood but I would like mediation with Mr Bardsley.”
The man did admit to sending letters and notes to residents. He said: “We need our parking spaces in front of our house. We just want people to be civilised and polite.”
