From the Birmingham Mail
A councillor has told how she has become the victim of a vicious hate campaign since she launched a court bid to overturn the go-ahead for a 10-pitch Traveller site.
Tory Coun Janice Richards said that she and her husband Anthony have been left “nervous wrecks” as a result of a the abuse.
The “terrifying” vendetta has included 70 year-old Janice’s name appearing alongside national newspaper adverts for prostitutes.
Janice said she has also received obscene phone calls, had visits from funeral directors, who came round to measure up for a coffin, and had takeaway meals delivered which neither she nor Anthony had ordered.
Meanwhile 73 year-old Anthony’s car – his “pride and joy” – has been vandalised with paint stripper.
And Janice has further claimed that an individual has sat outside her family home in a “threatening manner”.
Leicestershire Police arrested a 51 year-old in connection with harassment as a result of her allegations. He has since been released on police bail.
Janice, who represents Earl Shilton for Leicestershire County Council, said her problems began after she helped to raise £10,000 for a High Court bid to overturn the go-ahead for a 10-pitch Traveller site at the back of Dale Brook farm in Earl Shilton.
Other town councillors and residents had also joined the attempt to reverse the green light given to the development by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council following the application in May.
The campaigners claim that the land is inappropriate for such a development because it is on a floodplain.
Coun Richards said: “It was not a racist decision to join this campaign so I want whoever is responsible to stop destroying my life.”
“I feel like we are being punished and targeted for something which isn’t our fault.
“I have nothing against Travellers – I am not a racist. My only problem was the fact that the land set aside for the site was a known flooding area and that was the only reason I wanted it halted.
“I had concerns over flooding and would have treated any other planning application the same.
“The incidents we’ve had to put up with over the last few months have been horrible – no-one should have to go through what we’ve been through. It is destroying my life.”
Councillor Richards said that the incidents have left her “terrified”, with her doctor becoming increasingly concerned about her “sky high” blood pressure.
The couple are living in fear despite stepping up security at their home. Janice has asked Hinckley and Bosworth council to install CCTV.
Their letter box has also been boarded up.
“Everything has been quite stressful for me and I’m not usually a person who gets stressed,” she said.
“We’ve had obscene phone calls, takeaway drivers have delivered us meals which we hadn’t ordered and I’ve even taken calls when someone started growling at me down the end of the phone, like a bear.
“It’s evening times which really get to us, that’s when we start to get nervous. Both my husband and I keep waking up at night, jumping out of bed and thinking we can hear things, it’s been awful. I feel sorry for the sad person that is having to do this. Who could put two elderly people through such a traumatic time? We are nervous wrecks.”
Leicestershire Police said: “Local officers have carried out house to house enquiries, examined CCTV footage and an officer has an appointment to visit the address.
“Officers are also working closely with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to look at putting measures in place to reassure the people living at the address.
“Police are also investigating an allegation of harassment between May 2013 and August 2013. A 51-year-old man has been arrested in connection with that investigation and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.”
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