Minister fears he is the victim of a hate campaign
AN INDEPENDENT minister from the Gwendraeth Valley in Carmarthenshire fears he is the victim of a hate campaign in his own home after being repeatedly targeted by youths.
Reverend Emyr Gwyn Evans, who lives in Tumble near Cross Hands, said the anti-social behaviour has plagued him for some time, adding: “For months on end now I have been harassed in my own home because of anti-social behaviour by a group of youngsters in the village.
“One or more of them has also been shouting at me that I am a ‘Bible-basher’.”
He believes there could be an element of hatred aimed towards him as they know he is a minister.
The youngsters pelt his home with eggs, dog faeces and other objects up to twice a week, with the attacks now escalating and affecting his neighbours.
Rev Evans is minister of chapels in Peniel, Bwlch-y-corn in Llanllawddog, Pant-teg near Nantgaredig, Horeb near Brechfa, Siloam in Pontargothi and Ebeneser in Abergwili.
Broydd Myrddin Pastorate Committee, which has more than 300 members in six Independent chapels, has expressed strong support for their minister.
At a recent committee meeting concern was expressed that Rev Evans appears to be targeted because he is a minister of religion.
The committee said if this is the case, the attacks fall into the category of hate crime and should be investigated by police.
The stress of the relentless abuse is also impacting on his ministerial duties.
Rev Evans said: “These youngsters, who are not known to me, have been knocking the front door and front windows, even kicking the door in order to draw my attention and lure me outside.
“Many a time I have tried to ignore them and not to confront them as advised by the police, but they return to taunt me for hours on end.”
He added: “One Sunday evening last month they harassed for more than three hours between 8.30pm and 11.40pm, and the following Friday they were at it again between 11.40pm and 12.10am.
“I turned the lights off, giving the impression that I had gone to bed.
“Each time there were four youngsters outside the house. They’ve also been continuously throwing a variety of other objects at my home, some of which could easily shatter windows.
“The objects include beer bottles, lager cans, coins, refuse from the street which was put out for the day after rubbish collection, an old metal pipe and part of a hoover, both hard materials, milkshake bottles, dog fouling in their litter bags as well as dozens of eggs.”
Recently, when he was asleep, Reverend Evans was woken at 1am in the early hours of Saturday by knocking and banging outside. He said: “I totally ignored them, but the following morning I saw that they had plastered my front door, bay window and walls with eggs.”
On Monday, January 31, his home was further attacked just after 7pm by a group of up to five youngsters hurling eggs at the side and back walls of his home, launching the eggs from the lane beside the house and over the garage.
The repeated attacks have meant him having to fork out for the services of a local pressure-washing service to clean the mess from windows and walls.
Reverend Evans said he has been forced to take steps to try to feel safe in his own home and is looking to install CCTV at a cost of £1,000.
He added: “I fear that this gratuitous harassment will continue as I expect another attack, which will not stop until the perpetrators are traced and brought to account, that is, either the youngsters themselves or their parents and guardians.
“I’ve cause to believe that at least one is of adult age and is drawing youngsters out with them on the streets after dark.
“If this is the case, they as adults are guilty of grooming children or youths to act in ways which could prove a great threat and danger to the people and community of Tumble and district.
“Whoever the culprits are, they have to be stopped so that myself and my neighbours can live in peace in our own homes.
“Like me, some of my neighbours are stressed, anxious and worried about the ongoing anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood.”
Dyfed-powys Police said “tackling anti-social behaviour and haterelated incidents and crimes is a priority” for the force and officers have been in contact with Rev Evans and others in the community.
A spokeswoman for the force added: “Inquiries have been made with shops, licensed premises, the council and all those who hold CCTV in the area in an effort to establish the identity of the offenders and deal with them as appropriate.
“We would appeal directly to parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are doing.
“In response to the incidents, the neighbourhood policing team will continue to provide a visible presence throughout the area with the aim of providing further reassurance to the community.”
To date, two youths have been identified and referred to a scheme that aims to prevent minor crime.