Wilfred Crossland, 79, has suffered years of abuse, threats and vandalism – and is waiting to hear whether the council can move him from his house.

And 34-year-old father of two Andrew Milnes, who lives near the Harrops, also wants to move elsewhere because of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Yesterday a councillor appealed for beleaguered residents to work with the council, tenants groups and police to cut down on anti-social behaviour.


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Mr Crossland said the trouble started three years ago when gangs of teenagers and young men started to target him, shouting abuse and repeatedly kicking footballs against his house.

"I just hear these kids shouting and screaming and bawling and kicking the football – it can go on for hours," he said.

He added they threatened and abused him if he went out to talk to them and his appeals to get their parents to deal with the problem hadfallen on deaf ears.

"I lost my wife Kathleen 17 years ago and I just feel she is with me in the house. I don't want to lose my home and I don't see why I should when I have done nothing wrong.

"I have never wished Kathleen dead and miss her all the time but I am glad she didn't have to go through this!"

Now, sleepless and at the end of his tether, Mr Crossland – who has lived in the house for 41 years – has applied to Leeds City Council for a home elsewhere in Morley.

Mr Milnes, who asked for his address to be withheld, said: "Moving to Morley is a horror that I am now looking to end."

He has had one car written off by vandals, has seen thefts and on four occasions has chased off gangs of thieves. The last straw came on Saturday when a crowd of older teenagers surrounded his son and tried to snap his glasses and steal his bicycle.

He said: "The police were great and came out quickly but I am so frustrated. I see all this crime and think what are their parents thinking? This is scum from Morley's own streets."

Coun Robert Finnigan said: "There is a lot that can be done, from behaviour contracts and anti-social behaviour orders, to evictions and locking people up; but we need people to inform us of what is going on so we can contact our partners, the police and tenants and residents groups, to resolve the issues."