THE neighbour of a man who says he has been forced to flee his home says the estate has wrongly been given a bad name.

On Monday 55-year-old Derek Jefferies said he had left his home in Carrington House, West Mersea, after a catalogue of abuse.

He said the latest incident occurred when yobs smashed the front and rear windscreens of his car.

But neighbour Stuart Battersby, who lives in Carrington Court, a block opposite Mr Jefferies, said Mr Jefferies’ actions are giving the area a bad name.

“I have lived here nearly a year now and I have had no trouble at all,” he said.

“If somewhere has a bad name because there is a lot of trouble, then fair enough, but we don’t and people are working hard to make this a nice place to live.

“I have a bike and I leave it out in the back garden and these yobs he’s talking about, they have never touched it.

“I have plants outside and I like to keep my garden nice and they have never touched them.

“He’s giving the area a bad name for no reason.”

Mr Battersby, 58, added residents sometimes have parties and play loud music but there are no problems after 10pm.