Phil's four year battle with vandals

A MILITARY vehicle enthusiast fears he could be left with yet another expensive repair bill after four years of vandalism to his former US Air Force Ambulance.

Phil Walker (64) said vandals often sprayed the vehicle with paint and one of its windows has also been smashed.

Mr Walker, of Sycamore Avenue, Wickersley, said: “We had a letter about four years ago when we first got the ambulance saying: ‘Move that vehicle from the front of your house before it gets damaged’ and it’s gone on from there.

“It’s just extremely annoying because we believe it’s the same person.

“The police have been out a few times and confirmed that it’s not causing an obstruction for road users or pedestrians.

“We literally have no idea why it keeps happening but we’re pretty certain it’s the same person.

“Whether it’s because it’s something different and they don’t like it, I don’t know.”

Mr Walker, who has run the Yorkshire American Car Club since 1982, bought the ambulance from a yard in Lincolnshire.

He said the vehicle was one of only 17 made by the US Air Force in 1989.

Mr Walker said: “We’re not quite certain of the vehicle’s history because the US military don’t keep records when they dispose of vehicles.

“We know it was based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk at one point and it was the first Gulf War in 1990, but whether it was involved in that we can’t be certain.”

Mr Walker said he had tried to contact the glass manufacturers to get a quote for a repair of the smashed window but was puzzled by the vandals’ motive.

He said: “The glass manufacturers are based in the US and it is special glass so you can see out but not in.

“We’ve spent hundreds repairing the damage so far and the window won’t be cheap but it’s not so much the cost, it’s the annoyance of how long it’s been going on.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the force was investigating a number of reports of criminal damage on the vehicle overnight on Thursday.

She added: “The Ford, which is a collector’s item and similar to a military style ambulance, had black paint sprayed on it causing damage to the paintwork.

“Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may hold information about those responsible.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 599 of January 8.