A pensioner that was targeted by teenagers in an anti-social attack has told the Echo that “people want to live a normal life,” in Shirley.

On Thursday afternoon, May 15, Clive Trowbridge was walking through Shirley Precinct after shopping at Poundland, where a group of four teenagers surrounded him in an attempt to intimidate the 66-year-old.

After walking away from the teenage gang, one of the children squirted the pensioner with a water pistol before he took refuge in Barnardo’s before ordering a taxi home, unable to go back into the precinct.

The episode is one of a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents in Shirley in the past three weeks that has seen Hampshire police issue two separate dispersal orders. The last of which was issued on the same day Clive was targeted and the entrance to Shirley Library was broken in a separate incident.

Damaged inflicted to Shirley Library last week after an anti-social behaviour incident in the precinct (Image: Newsquest) “It seems to be an ongoing issue in Shirley, but it won't put me off as I'm made of stronger stuff,” said Clive, who joined business owners in the area in condemning the recent spike in anti-social behaviour incidents.

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Clive added: “I think it all comes back to the fact there's no parental guidance, they may not know what's going on.

“People just want to live their everyday normal life but when the sun sets Shirley becomes a different place." 

Gita Robinson, manager of Bula Market on Shirley Road, echoed Clive’s concerns and said the grocery store had made a habit of featuring more expensive items inside the shop, rather than on display outside, so that if anything got stolen it wouldn’t have as big an impact on the business.

Gita Robinson, manager of Bula Market (Image: Newsquest) She said: “Shirley is a really nice place to live but it's a shame because it only takes a few people to ruin it for everyone.

“We've made a conscious effort to display our less expensive items on the table outside the store, so worst case scenario if someone takes something, we might only lose £1.

“The older generation is fine; there's just a handful of younger people who don't know how to treat others.”

Muhammad Usman, manager of Phone Hub in the precinct, said he had seen first-hand how anti-social behaviour had impacted people in Shirley.

He said: “The same children are often in the precinct and can be very loud and I think it puts people off from coming into the shop as they don't want to walk past them.

“I've seen them swear and pick on elderly people walking by, for some reason they just seem to want to be difficult.”

Shirley resident, Tony Weafer, added the problem had got “out of control,” and several businesses had been impacted by vandalism in recent months, having a “negative impact on the whole area.”

Commenting on the rise in anti-social behaviour on Shirley Road, Liberal Democrat councillor, George Percival, told the Echo he “fully backed” police action.

He said: “I fully back the police, they’ve used dispersal orders and taken action, but it’s still the same offenders causing chaos.

“With school holidays coming, this behaviour must be stamped out now. Assaults on staff and damage to public property must carry real consequences, and we need to see follow-through from the whole system, not just the frontline officers. 

“The next chance for residents to speak up is the PACT meeting on June 2, at 6pm in Shirley. I urge the public to attend and voice their concerns."