D-Day veteran's allotment targeted by thieves

Bob Pullin visited his patch at the Fairfields allotments in Hungerford to find his vegetables had been stolen

A VETERAN of the D-Day landings, aged 88, has been targeted by thieves who stole vegetables from his Hungerford allotment.

Bob Pullin visited his patch at Hungerford's Fairfields allotments recently to discover his prized leeks, shallots and other veg had been dug up and stolen.

His son Richard said: “It's just sickening. My father was often up at 5am watering his produce. What sort of person with any self respect could do this to an old man and veteran soldier?

“He is now wondering whether it is worth going to all the trouble, at his age, of weeding, growing, tending and watering his plot when someone can just get in and steal the lot. Why should he put in all that work just to feed them?”

He added: “I'm so upset that I can't tell what I really think of such people.”

The Fairfields allotment has been repeatedly targetted. Last June vegetables were torn out of at least three plots and strewn across the footpath near Hungerford Primary School overnight.

Days previously, veg at both the Marsh Lane and Fairfields sites were stolen from the plots of six growers.

The chairman of the Hungerford Allotment Holders' Association, Chris Tout said at the time: "It's soul destroying. People put in a lot of effort and one woman was in tears after her plot was attacked.

The fencing was restored but the latest incident has proved that that has been little deterrent.

Meanwhile, anyone who sees anything suspicious at the allotment sites should telephone the police on 0845 8 505 505 or, alteratively, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.