A JUDGE has launched a scathing attack on the police and the courts after a case of terrifying harassment against a Hampshire couple collapsed.

Judge Paul Darlow also apologised to the couple after seven defendants, accused of waging a campaign of intimidation, walked free.

He said: "They must feel terribly let down by the system. Normal, decent householders expect protection from the police and the prosecuting authority behind them. I'm speechless.''

The judge made his strong feelings known at Southampton Crown Court after the case collapse because the prosecution offered no evidence.

He spoke of how Angela Baxter, 52, pictured above, and Alan James, 63, of Norham Avenue, Upper Shirley, Southampton, had made repeated complaints to the police, whose response was "disjointed and disorganised".

He said no one had given the couple, who now barricade their doors at night, "sensible or careful advice" about approaching the council for help.

"They have got this far having, it seems to me, been subjected to a campaign of harassment and intimidation from whoever it may be and now they have no opportunity to have this matter tried before a jury.

"I must say I feel deeply sorry for them. They have been let down by the police, the local authority, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts.''

The seven defendants, from Southampton, had denied charges of putting Mrs Baxter and Mr James in fear of violence, affray and causing damage.

They were Kevin Stowell, 20, of Greywell Avenue, Vincent Mouncey, 18, of Bullar Road, Steven Russell, 18, of Winchester Road, Neil Harmsworth, 18, of Vincent Avenue, and three other teenagers who cannot be named.

After the case, the couple spoke of their three-month ordeal. It began last Easter when they rang police about youths partying in a van, which was then destroyed. The couple told the Daily Echo how:

Bricks had been hurled at their house

Threats had been made to burn it down

The back window of their car had been smashed

A crowbar had been thrown through their kitchen window.

Mrs Baxter said: "We are still barricading the doors at night. We feel depressed. We bought the house to renovate but it's not in a fit state to sell. We can't move out. We are stuck there."

Mr James said: "We feel we are out there on our own. We are furious and feel let down by everyone, even more so this morning. It's devastating."

Today, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service's Eastleigh office said: "The matter is in the hands of a senior member of the CPS."

Sgt Andy Jennings, of Shirley Police, said: "We accept in our view this couple have been subjected to prolonged problems. We will be liaising with our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service to see what has happened in this case."

A city council spokesman said: "We sympathise with any resident suffering harassment and would offer support through our council services or other agencies."

Southampton mayor Derek Burke, who lives in the same road, said: "I feel very sorry for them."

Local ward councillor Dorian Attwood said the couple had his deepest sympathies.

"It is a sad reflection on society that this sort of behaviour by youths happens in many areas."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.