At 10.30pm on the evening of Thursday 28th June someone climbed over the wrought Iron gates at the rear of 39A, The Green, Aycliffe Village.
The suspect was dressed in a pale hoodie with a cap underneath and a scarf wrapped around the lower portion of the face. Obviously a young and agile person to climb the gates and also escape very quickly in the same direction when spotted.
The suspect had carried a yellow container with the bleach or caustic substance and left with the empty container.
The result was devastation in the pond and the cruel death of the fish even though the draining was carried out with minutes and fish transferred into clean water in a large container, only two of the smaller fish were thought to have survived, but they died later.
Roger Curtis said” We have lived in this village for 35 years, my wife and I are both in our seventies and have never experienced anything like this. I fail to understand the reason why anyone should want to do this to us and our pond.”
“It is obvious the sole intention of the intruder was to carry out this reprehensible act, or why climb the gate carrying the liquid? Our Grandchildren who loved to feed them are most upset and also ask why”?
The pictures show some of the dead fish which are reasonably large and the huge amount of foam left in the bottom of the pond even after draining. Police are aware.
“We will now install CCTV to hopefully deter further intrusions” said Roger.
If anyone has information they may contact:-
PCSO Jen Atkinson at Newton Aycliffe Police
Jennifer.atkinson@durham.pnn.police.uk
Call 101
