Balaclava-clad ‘travellers’ accused of terrorising town by ripping up gardens, setting animals on FIRE & raiding shops
Balaclava-clad ‘travellers’ accused of terrorising town by ripping up gardens, setting animals on FIRE & raiding shops
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BALACLAVA-CLAD "travellers" are accused of terrorising a town by ripping up gardens, setting animals on fire and raiding shops. Around 300 people attended a public meeting last night to complain over police inaction after they were left “terrified” by a weekend of “shocking” criminal activity, which also saw the group of men allegedly threaten firefighters.
![[Police towing a vehicle away in a field.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/880732-picture-dated-january-27th-967320328.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A convoy of up to 30 cars carrying dozens of men, one with a pick axe handle, are said to have tore around in the Cambridgeshire Fens on Saturday, ripping up farmers’ fields, ruining crops, speeding through villages and intimidating the locals, who have been left “traumatised”.
![[Mud-covered car in a ditch.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/880732-picture-dated-january-27th-967320327.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The men also damaged fire engines and attacked fire crew, who were taking part in a training exercise in Chatteris - with Cambridgeshire Police “ignoring” all 999 calls. Farmers and residents gave harrowing stories at the meeting at Manea British Legion Club, which was called by MP Steve Barclay and Manea councillor Charlie Marks.
![[A large crowd of people at a public meeting.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/880732-picture-dated-january-27th-967320269.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It was attended by Cambridgeshire’s Chief Constable Nick Dean, who heard from dozens of residents, who said they had been left unprotected despite making 999 calls for help. One resident told police they needed to improve their response in the future, warning: “You get this wrong and you will have another Tony Martin on your hands.”.
![[Tire tracks in a muddy field.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/880732-screen-grabs-dated-january-967320417.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Martin was a farmer from Norfolk, England, who shot a burglar dead in his home in August 1999. Farmer Matthew Latter, from Sutton Gault, Chatteris, said he was forced to barricade himself and his young family in their home after more than 70 masked men smashed their way through gates, and moved concrete blocks to access his land.
![[A muddy SUV being towed away by a recovery truck, with police present.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/880732-picture-dated-january-27th-967320545.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
