Mother scared for family’s safety after bullet hit her window

An Essex mother has been left worried for her family’s safety after an air rifle bullet hit her window whilst she and her daughter sat in their front room.

Lisa Wealthall, of Hermitage Drive in Basildon, said the pellet hit her front window at around 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Only the first pane of the double glazing was smashed, but Lisa said that it was too close for comfort.

Her four-year-old daughter, who has downs syndrome, was in the room when the incident occurred.

She said: “She was opposite that window. Had it come through the window it could have caused some serious harm, I really don’t want this to happen again.”

Lisa’s daughter was unharmed and was not shaken by the event.

While Lisa, 45, does not feel her family was targeted in the incident, it comes at a time when concern for such incidents in the area is high.

Nearby Phoenix Primary School recently sent out a warning to parents warning them of children firing “BB Gun” pellets.

Headteacher Kerry Geary said: “Upon returning to school after the Easter break, we discovered two windows had been broken.

“It is believed the damage may have been caused by a pellet gun and police were informed.

“A message was sent to advise parents and the windows are being repaired.”

The short space of time between when the bullet hit her window and the vandalism at the local school has lead Lisa to question whether it is the same perpetrators.

 It took a short while for Lisa to realise what had happened.

She said: “I just heard a ‘thud’ and a ‘pop’ and that must have been when it happened. It wasn’t until about half an hour later when I was leaving for the school run that I noticed it.

“So much goes on around here that I didn’t think much of the noise.”

Lisa searched for the object that struck her window and found a pellet on her driveway.

Lisa, who works as a carer for her daughter and as a care provider for others, lives at home with her husband and four of her five children.

Essex police said: “Police received a report of criminal damage on hermitage drive Laindon at around 4pm yesterday Wednesday April 19.

“A 45 year old woman called police and reported her window had been smashed by an unknown object.

“Inquiries are ongoing, anyone with information is asked to call Basildon Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.”