Bolton: Residents' terror at living on troubled Deane estate

Now one resident says she sleeps with a knife under her pillow.

The Bolton News reported just recently that residents living on the Langthorne Walk area in Deane have been plagued by the criminal and anti-social activity.

A high-profile meeting was held between residents, police and Bolton at Home officers in a bid to tackle the problems.

But the problems are persisting, with the latest happening in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A senior police officer in Bolton has stressed that they are taking action and 'will not tolerate' residents being victims of crime.

READ: Bolton at Home, police and residents attend meeting to address 'lawless' area

At around 1am, a resident of Langthorne Walk said she went to look out of her kitchen window to investigate a disturbance happening outside their front door.

The area of Langthorne Walk where the incident happened

She said: “I came downstairs, and I looked out the window and there was a gentleman stood out there and he was just arguing with someone. So, I just left it alone and I was standing in my kitchen.”

The resident went on to describe the racist language she believes was directed at her, with the words “Get out of our house. Go home" being shouted.

Just moments after she moved away a brick came smashing through the window.

“I just started screaming and I ran out and the next thing I knew another brick came through as well," she said.

Two bricks came through the kitchen window

Another brick was thrown at the property with similar racially charged abuse shouted.

In total, at various properties on the street, four windows were smashed in the incident.

Another resident also claimed that people actually got into his house, forcing him to hide and fear for his life.

The police and Bolton at Home both attended when alerted.

After they had gone, the resident who had two bricks thrown at her house got a knock on the door.

She told The Bolton News: “I said, ‘who is it?’ and they replied, ‘Bolton Council’, and I thought that didn’t sound right because Bolton Council wouldn’t send someone to Bolton at Home properties.

“They said, ‘I’m here to fix your windows. Let me in before I f*****g kick the door down. Don’t let me f*****g kick the door down’.”

The windows have been boarded up

The ordeal has left the residents feeling unsafe in their own homes.

She said: “Since this has happened, I don’t open any doors or windows. I’m shut in. I’ve put paper up over the glass so that seeing movement if we’re walking is limited.

“I sleep with a knife and a hammer under my bed just for the mere fact that I don’t feel safe.

She added: “I do think that it’s racially motivated, just due to the mere fact that the slurs came with it.

She also praised the response from police and Bolton at Home, saying: “They are limited as to the assistance that they can provide. The police were here and did what they could, but they were then called on another job. Which you can understand.

She has covered up the windows in her door our of fear that someone might spot her through them

“It’s a catch 22 station where the police are doing their best. Bolton at Home is doing its best. I don’t honestly know how it gets resolved."

She also said that the only thing that would make her feel safe would be to move from the area entirely.

A spokeperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “At 1.18am on Saturday 4 June 2022, police received a report that unknown offenders had smashed the windows of a property in the Langthorne Walk area of Bolton.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

Rumworth Neighbourhood Sergeant Tracy Tant said: "With regards to this incident I am aware that response officers have attended the initial incident and I have asked two of my NBO’s to visit the victim and investigate the matter.

"As before we take all incidents of violence seriously and will conduct a full investigation into the offenders of the incident, once they have been identified we will be governed by the victim as to the lines of action they wish to take. 

"We will not tolerate our residents being victims of these crimes and will take the matter as far as they wishes to go, with the evidence provided."

Gemma Parlby, Bolton at Home’s Group Director of Housing and Customer Services, said: “We’re aware of and appalled by this incident at Langthorne Walk over the weekend, and we’ll continue to work with the police and do what we can to support tenants.

“We encourage all our communities to be wary of people pretending to work for Bolton at Home and attempting to enter their home.

"For the vast majority of our visits, we give prior notice and tenants will know to expect us. But in all situations, including emergencies, we’ll carry appropriate identification and tenants can phone us on 01204 328000 to check if a visit is legitimate or if they have any other concerns.”