Teenage gang '˜smashing windows and demanding free food' in St Leonards

A gang of teenagers are vandalising shops and hassling staff in St Leonards takeaways '“ according to a chippy owner whose window was smashed on Wednesday night (August 10).
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Aug 2016, 14:34 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 23:31 BST

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Blue Fish's window was smashed on Wednesday night SUS-161208-132243001Blue Fish's window was smashed on Wednesday night SUS-161208-132243001
Blue Fish's window was smashed on Wednesday night SUS-161208-132243001

The group of 10 to 15 adolescents have been jumping on cars, smashing windows and demanding free food from numerous stores on London Road, Blue Fish owner Payman Ahosraey said.

Mr Ahosraey believes it was this group of teenagers who smashed this window and are also hassling his staff.

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“They keep coming in the shop asking for free food and hassling us,” he said.

Blue Fish's smashed window will cost £500 to be repaired SUS-161208-132259001Blue Fish's smashed window will cost £500 to be repaired SUS-161208-132259001
Blue Fish's smashed window will cost £500 to be repaired SUS-161208-132259001

“If you give them free food they keep coming back, and if you don’t they smash the windows, it’s a hard situation and I don’t know how to deal with it.

“They do it with other takeaways too but they’re not going to come forward.”

Mr Ahosraey claimed stores up and down London Road have been affected but this is the first time his fish and chip shop has been targeted in the 18 months he has been there.

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The 48-year-old said for the past few weeks the teens have been acting anti-socially on the high street, even punching an elderly man in the face, which is starting to affect his business.

“It will affect the business as it’s making people want to go somewhere else,” he said.

“The majority of customers are over 50s but they’re really vulnerable.

“Two weeks ago an old man was punched in the face and blinded outside the shop by the teenagers. The police came but nothing happened.”

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“It’s worrying especially at the moment when times are tough with paying the bills, you can’t afford to lose customers and you have to deal with these teenagers.

“The window is going to cost £500 to be repaired so it’s a lot of money.”

Sussex Police has been contacted for comment.

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