Taxi Driver Online

The Sunderland Echo

February 12, 2007

HEADLINE: Hate campaign continues on firm

A TAXI firm's cars have been trashed yet again by vandals. Every one of Kenna's Cabs seven vehicles have now been attacked in the hate campaign, which has already cost it more than £10,000 in repair bills. In the latest incident, three of its five Skoda Octavias had their paintwork scratched in one night.

Up to five other privately-owned cars parked near to the company's booking office in Princess Road, Seaham, were also targeted. The cost of re-spraying the cabs, along with its other cars and buses, has been put at £23,000. The business is run by John Kennedy, 34, and wife Nancy, 37, who have four children, Leah, 14, James, 12, Jessica, 10, and Laura, eight. Mrs Kennedy said:

"I'm angry more than anything else now. "It's come to the stage where it is frustrating, mainly because we don't know why this is happening. "I'm worried for the safety of the children because I don't know who these people are. "We don't know what's coming next. "But no matter what, I am not going to stop trading.

I can't let these people bother me." Mrs Kennedy also thanked police officers for their ongoing efforts to track down the vandals, who have caused a catalogue of damage since May. The windows of its booking office have been smashed and its vehicles have had aerials snapped off, tyres damaged, taxi signs torn from their roofs and paintwork scratched.

Another incidents happened while the Kennedys and their staff were enjoying a Christmas party, with paintstripper thrown across two cabs and a mini-bus, and one of its cars was scratched a fortnight ago. Posters have now been put up in the town appealing for help.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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