Firework thrown through cat flap
A mother has spoken of her terror after yobs shoved a firework through the cat flap of her Hatherley home while she slept.
Sharron Fisher, of Broad Oak Way, said she feels lucky her children were not in the house at the time and her partner was at home.
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She said: “We heard some scuffling and at first we thought it was the cat messing about, but then there was an almighty bang and a flash.
“At first we thought it was an electrical fault, but when we got on to the landing there was smoke everywhere.
“We were frantically looking for where the fire was, but then we saw the cat flap halfway up the stairs.
“I am so glad my two boys were away for the weekend as they sometimes leave their doors open when they sleep.”
Sharron said the incident, which happened at about 3.45am, had ruined much of the paintwork and carpet in the house.
She said: “We had to spend a whole day redecorating — we had only just finished doing up the downstairs.
“We have had to get the door and carpet replaced and contact the insurance company.”
Sharron said the police attended promptly but the offenders were nowhere to be found.
She said: “I don’t understand the mentality. If $was kids it was awfully late for them to be out — where are the parents — and if it was adults, then it is very sad.”
Coun David Hall (C, Up Hatherley), said: “Thankfully, firework nuisance in the Hatherley area is rare. But this incident will be discussed at the next crime and disorder panel.”
A spokesman for Gloucestershire police said no-one had been arrested in connection with the incident but patrols had been stepped up over the bonfire night period.
24 Comments
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by Leonie, Cheltenham
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 7:21PM
“I am very calm thank you Shergar darling!”
by Shergar, Cheltenham
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 3:07PM
“Calm down Leonie please”
by Leonie, Cheltenham
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 9:25AM
“*sigh*
Ok, kids, adults, whatever.
Why is everyone always looking for a fight and picking apart people's comments on here??”
by FJ, Glos
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 7:37AM
“"obviously I was expressing my disgust at the behaviour of these kids"
Can somebody tell me exactly the article says kids did it- or is it part of this culture of giving kids the blame for everything.
I do think that whoever did this should be charged with arson and attempted assult.”
by Leonie, Cheltenham
Monday, November 10 2008, 9:36PM
“Shergar - obviously I was expressing my disgust at the behaviour of these kids. I don't believe that firework insertion is generally an accepted punishment of the justice system... I didn't destroy my argument at all.”
by Anon, Cheltenham
Monday, November 10 2008, 6:11PM
“What a crazy act of selfishness. This must have been so firghtening for Mrs Fisher and her partner. There are some very thick and thoughtless people out there. It is not the fireworks that are the problem. Just the mindless oafs who get their hands on them.”
by Shergar, Cheltenham
Monday, November 10 2008, 6:05PM
“Leonie - I dont think shoving a firework up anywhere would accomplish mush and you destroyed your entire argument with that one line.”
by chris, uk
Monday, November 10 2008, 5:14PM
“Start a petition then”
by Melissa, Gloucester
Monday, November 10 2008, 4:32PM
“I used to live in australia where fireworks are not sold to the general public and you have to apply for a license from the council to have a fireworks show (which has to be handled by a professional licensed fireworks company). The fact that fireworks are available to anyone old enough and with the money to buy them was somewhat of a shock to me when I arrived.
I understand the need to celebrate the historical significance of bonfire night but surely this doesn't extend to a bunch of yobs terrorising the general population and their animals by letting off fireworks (or lobbing said fireworks through the cat flap as in this sad tale).
Not only that but if fireworks are only supposed to be used on one particular night, i.e. bonfire night ,why is it that for weeks before and after the 5th November i often hear random fireworks going off.
Organised displays are a much nicer, community orientated way to celebrate and should be the only way fireworks are displayed.
I personally would be terrified as well if it had been my front hallway which was filled with smoke and my sympathy goes out to Sharon Fisher and her family.”
by Jerry Evans, Cheltenham
Monday, November 10 2008, 3:22PM
“I was the partner referred to in the story about a firework. I can assure everyone to be woken at 3.45am with the noise and smoke was terrifying. This was not children it was adult(s) at that time of morning. This should be treated as attempted arson, lets not wait until a fatality. Only organised fireworks should now be the norm.”