A DEAF littleham teenager bullied by yobs has labelled Exmouth police as useless despite measures to stop anti social behaviour in the area. Nathaniel Darby, who lives in Nelson Drive, said he was constantly being called names because he was deaf, and h

A DEAF littleham teenager bullied by yobs has labelled Exmouth police as 'useless' despite measures to stop anti social behaviour in the area.

Nathaniel Darby, who lives in Nelson Drive, said he was constantly being called names because he was deaf, and having objects including glass bottles thrown at him, in unprovoked attacks, by troublesome youths.

The 16-year-old said the police have failed to stop the problems he endures - despite dispersal notice measures being introduced in parts of Littleham last September.

His fed-up mum, Helen, agreed that trouble has continued since the launch of the new measures - designed to break up groups.

She said her partners' car had been vandalised, eggs were regularly thrown at their property and she had even been assaulted by the yobs in her front garden.

The 40-year-old mother of four said a number of these incidents had occurred after police started to use dispersal powers. "The trouble hasn't stopped. You still have to keep a watch out."

She added: "I live in a housing association property who told me I would have 'no trouble' when I moved in but I've had nothing but this."

Helen, in the last fortnight, has had pieces of gravel from the drive outside her home tampered with and strewn all over the road in Nelson Drive.

She added: "If I call the police, things get worse and other incidents happen."

As testament to continuing trouble in the area, Nicola Payne, police community support officer, said there had been a number of incidents since the start of the month.

A front wall of a property in Nelson Drive was damaged by graffiti on Saturday, December 5.

Graffiti was also sprayed on the retaining wall of a hardstanding at a separate property the same day and the bridge at Capel Lane was subject to vandalism.

PCSO Payne said: "It is believed all three crimes are linked and occurred in the same day."

Speaking to the Journal before the dispersal powers were introduced, one mother, from Liverton Close, explained she had installed CCTV at her home because her son was being bullied by a gang of youths.