Soldiers and police come to veteran's aid

YOUNG soldiers joined forces with police to repair the garden of a terminally ill ex-serviceman after it was wrecked by yobs who made his life a misery.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jul 2010, 11:37 BST
Updated 22nd Jul 2010, 11:37 BST

Junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, teamed up with North Yorkshire officers to help the 75-year-old victim of harassment, anti-social behaviour and vandalism of his property in Bilton, Harrogate.

Arrests by Pc Tom Jackson, the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Officer, led to five youths being given community sentences for affray and assault at Harrogate Youth Court.

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This led his colleague PCSO John Smith to set out with the Army Foundation College to help the pensioner, who does not wish to be named, as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Soldiers from 11 Platoon (Cambrai) Company, led by Corporal Ross Dunsire, joined Harrogate North Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team and Pc Rob Jessiman from the MoD Police to transform the ex-serviceman's garden.

The plot of land had become completely overgrown and a dumping ground for all kinds of litter since the boundary fence had been vandalised.

The junior soldiers cleared three van loads of rubbish from the area, and then, using donated materials donated materials, put up a new boundary fence.

Related topics:SoldiersTom JacksonJohn SmithHarrogateNorth Yorkshire