FAMILY ‘LEAVING CITY’ AFTER RIOT TERROR
Dad says they no longer feel safe after night of violence:
A MAN whose home was targeted after he tried to stop youths setting fire to his car during the Mayhill riots says he is moving out of the area as he no longer feels safe in his home.
Adam Romain’s car was set alight before a group of youths began hurling bricks at him and his home in Mayhill on May 20, smashing windows and showering his baby daughter’s cot with glass.
He moved to the area in 2017 where he lives with his partner and two children aged four and one.
Since the incident on Waun-wen Road, they have been living with family and they are now planning on moving out of Swansea as they no longer feel safe.
Adam said: “We are looking to move elsewhere, we are just going to leave Swansea completely, that’s the main focus.
“I can’t sit in that living room anymore with my children playing there with the thought that a brick could come through the window at any point.
“Especially now I’ve put myself out there, I’m more recognised now, we fear in the future there will be some level of retaliation.”
He said that the family were slowly recovering.
“[We’re] trying to keep the kids distracted and put the pieces back together,” he said.
“My partner is holding up, she’s finding the strength somewhere to keep going. I haven’t gone back to work these last few days, she’s too afraid for me to go out at the moment.
“There’s all sorts of emotions flying around, the poor lady next door to me was petrified, absolutely petrified. Everybody is fearing for their kids, some people have left already. It’s understandable.” The 34-year-old also spoke about another incident two months ago when a car was rolled down a hill in the street.
“I can’t put my children through that anymore, I can’t risk it.
“What makes it worse is that we had quite a severe event just two months previous to this when somebody had thrown a car down the hill through the barrier and smashed into two cars.
“I really applaud the bravery of those who are saying ‘hang on, why should I move.’ Hundreds of people have contacted me and sent us messages, I don’t feel like I’ve been able to thank them enough,” he added.
Police say they are expecting to make more arrests over the “despicable” scenes of violence in parts of Swansea last
week.
Over the weekend, seven people, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested in connection with the violent disorder which saw cars torched, homes damaged, and officers forced into retreat in the Mayhill area of the city on the evening of May 20.
Of the seven who have been arrested, two – aged 21 and 23 – were kept in police custody and five have been released on bail with a number of strict conditions including a night-time curfew.
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I can’t sit in that living room anymore with my children playing there with the thought that a brick could come through the window at any point. Especially now I’ve put myself out there, I’m more recognised now, we fear in the future there will be some level of retaliation
- Adam Romain