Ex Honda employee has car stamped on

9:20am Monday 5th January 2009

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By Hayley Court »

STAN Akhurst was hoping for a festive family getaway away from Swindon and a chance to put the end of a rough year behind him.

But instead Stan’s Christmas break to Buckfastleigh in Dartmoor with wife Joanna and son Sid, 13, was wrecked when vandals stomped on his mint-condition Toyota Avensis, leaving him with a huge repair bill.

Stan, from Covingham, bought the £6,300 car three weeks ago with a slice of the payout he received from Honda.

He had opted for voluntary redundancy on December 19 and had bought the car so he could get around when he got his next job.

But when the family woke on Christmas Eve morning they discovered two huge dents on the roof causing damage estimated to be about £2,000.

Stan said: “To be honest it has ruined Christmas really.

“Everyone in Buckfastleigh was friendly and welcoming and we thought it was a wonderful place. But when I saw the damage done to the car and thought about what it would cost it felt like a kick in the stomach.”

The Akhursts, who are regular visitors to Dartmoor, were staying in a cottage and had left their car in a nearby street overnight on December 23.

Stan believes that at some time during the night youths clambered over the top of it, leaving footprints.

“I know your car can get damaged in any town and it was a couple of rogue elements in Buckfastleigh that did the damage.

“Until then we had nothing but a warm welcome from the people there.

“What upsets me the most is that this wasn’t a dent from a trolley in a supermarket car park, it wasn’t an accidental scratch from someone getting into the car next to yours, it was a deliberate act of vandalism.

“Even on the night we came back I could hear the youths outside again drinking and throwing bottles.

“It’s caused me no end of stress and would make me reluctant to return to Buckfastleigh despite everybody else being really nice.”

Stan has left notes with the landlord of the pub close to where his car was vandalised and the local Costcutter offering a £100 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

Despite enjoying much of the family’s break, Stan is happy to be back in Swindon.

“I’m just not looking forward getting the estimate next week,” he said.