Couple in fear after man’s car damaged by stranger who shouted racist slur at his front door

A man’s car was damaged in a racially-motivated incident by a passer-by he had never seen as it was parked outside his home leaving the couple who live there living in fear. The owner of the car, who is Black, and his partner, woke up on Monday, May 29 to find the wing mirror of his Mercedes badly damaged.

It was only after looking back at home security footage that they discovered a man appeared to deliberately target the car before shouting ‘that’ll teach you a lesson”, followed by a racist slur. The car was parked in Ashcott Avenue in a new development near Beaumont Leys where the couple has lived for more than two years.

Both the car owner, aged 27 and his girlfriend, 26 – who did not wish to be named – said they had never faced any problems in the area previously and did not recognise the man nor had they ever interacted with him. After seeing the footage they called they called the police who they said assured them it would be investigated.

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The car owner, a clinical scientist for the NHS, said: “I’m usually a laid-back person, I don’t get into any trouble, I work hard. I hadn’t seen this man before so for him to do this to me especially because of the colour of my skin, it’s not a nice feeling. Mentally it’s not a good place to be in. But my partner has also been impacted by this and I don’t like to see her like that.”

Concerned that the perpetrator seemed to know them, the man’s partner said she now felt “uncomfortable” about going out alone. She told LeicesteshireLive that she has since bought more security cameras for the front of the house and continues to check the footage.

“After we saw what happened I went around to ask some of the neighbours and nobody else’s cars were affected. [The man] would have had to walk past so many other cars before getting to my partner’s,” she said.

“I feel unsettled here now. We have never had any issues here before and I just don’t understand the motivation behind this,” she added. “It’s extremely uncomfortable.”

Despite being initially reassured by the police, the couple said a delay in taking statements led to further concern. The 27-year-old man said: “The most frustrating thing about this is that I can’t do anything. We have to put our trust in the police and when it feels they’re dragging their feet you feel you don’t necessarily have that protection.

“I’m sure they’re probably stretched and have other priorities but I can only say how I feel.” He added that the damage to the car will cost him upwards of £500.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “Police received a report on Monday 29 May of damage being caused to the wing mirror of a car in Ashcott Avenue, Leicester, and a comment of a racist nature being made. No injuries were reported during the incident.

“We understand the distress which has been caused to the victim by this incident and a full investigation remains ongoing into the report. Enquiries carried out at this stage include reviewing CCTV, house-to-house enquiries and obtaining a statement from the victim.

“Unfortunately, due to live emergency calls at the time, a previous appointment to obtain this statement did have to be postponed. Officers remain in contact with the victim to provide updates on the ongoing investigation and to offer advice and support.”

The force is now appealing to speak to the man in the video. Anyone who recognises the man, or the man himself is asked to contact the force quoting incident 23*327078.

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