Vandals run amok and a year's work on Rustington allotment ruined

Kent Kressner arrived at his Penfold Lane, Rustington allotment last Tuesday to find his cabbages and brussel sprouts sprayed with black, and grease in his water tank and smeared on his shed doors.

"If it had just been the sheds, I would not have minded so much, but I work hard all year to grow my vegetables, and now they are ruined.

"I do not know what is on them, but I do know that I will not eat them now."

Kent, 60, has been an allotment holder at the site since 2002, and in that time has been presented with a highly commended award from Rustington Parish Council most years, for keeping his plot clean, tidy and well maintained.

He has also won prizes for his vegetables at Angmering Flower and Produce Show and Yapton and District Cottage Gardeners Society Show in the past.

"People do not realise how many man hours goes into this. I am here almost every day. When I first got the plot it had been empty for four or five years, and was overgrown. I was here day and night to clean it up,and think I have done a good job."

Earlier this year, 22 sheds, including Kent's, were broken into, and vandalised, on the site.

He said: "I lost tools, which were expensive to replace. Now I am going to have to chuck the water tank away, because I have no idea what is in there, and it might poison the rest of my vegetables. I just want them to understand that this is not funny. I just want it to stop.

"This has made me so angry, and it has made me think 'what's the point?' I just want to give up."

Leaving the allotment would involve leaving friends behind though, he added.

"We are like a huge family here, we all get on and look out for each other. Of course it would be sad to let that go, but I don't see what other choice I have."

Anyone with information should call Littlehampton police on 0845 60 70 999.

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