Green liquid is poured over Leicester councillor Barbara Potter's car
Vandals have wrecked a city councillor's car by slashing its soft top roof and covering it in a green fluid.
Barbara Potter believes she may have been targeted after featuring in the media singing a Grease karaoke duet with Leicester East MP Keith Vaz.
Her yellow Peugeot 106 was badly damaged in the early hours of yesterday, when it was parked outside her home in Netherhall, Leicester.
The £2,000 car was left on the drive at about 12.30am. Councillor Potter discovered the damage when she got up to take her son, Matt, to work at 5.30am.
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"Someone has taken a knife to the roof and slashed it open," she said. "It looks like it's been done with a Stanley knife.
"They have poured about a gallon of something, I'm not sure what, over the inside.
"It's everywhere and it seems corrosive. I think it's a mixture of paint and paint stripper.
"There was a lot of the fluid inside. If you put your foot in it, it would come up to your ankle." Coun Potter, the city council Labour group chief whip, said she had been left "absolutely devastated" by the attack.
"I think it's just jealousy – somebody has seen me singing in the pub on Friday and they've decided to have a go at me," she said.
"It looks like they have broken the gate climbing over to get in.
"All I'm trying to do is work for the good of people in this area and something like this happens. It does make you feel vulnerable."
It is not the first time Coun Potter has had a car vandalised.
She bought the Peugeot about two years ago after her previous vehicle was trashed in the car park of Tesco, in Hamilton.
Police said they were investigating a report of criminal damage to a car in Winslow Green, Netherhall, in the early hours of yesterday.
A police spokesman said it was believed paint had been poured over the car.
Anyone with information is urged to ring Pc Karen Welford on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555111.
7 Comments
by glenfield123
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 10:31PM
“@ sansue, or should we call you insane sue?.If every child was taken into care when they/parent had caused some sort of criminal damage. The care system would be at even more breaking point than, i'm sure, it already is. Those children/teenagers would end up in care homes. Do you sansue think that would help them grow up into grounded, well adjusted adults?. Do you not think they will end up being in a more destructive mode than before or more than their parents are?”
by sansue
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 6:53PM
“"Whilst again not condoning which basically is wanton vandalism, it might have been someone who has someone at the school where she had her rant and rave recently and was asked to leave."
If they are a parent then their children should be taken into care until it becomes clear that their criminal behaviour will not be repeated.”
by Banksider33
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:31PM
“Not having much luck with cars is she? Maybe stick to public transport?
Still, it's a pretty despicable incident regardless of who you are.”
by democrat
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 11:57AM
“I wonder how many residents of this city suffered some form of vandalism on the same night as Councillor Potter?”
by roundthehorne
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 10:21AM
“While one can't condone criminal damage, it seems complete conjecture to think this is related to her pub performance with Vaz. That in itself has done plenty of damage to whatever credibility she may have had beforehand. Given that it's the second time her car has been targetted, maybe she should look at her policies (whatever they are) rather than assuming that it's some bizarre talent-show protest.”
by LikeItaLot
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 9:57AM
“Wonder if the culprit can manage to put an X on a ballot paper”
by keiran
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:52AM
“There are sad pathetic b******* every where.Why this incident is supposed to be linked to her sing along with nigel I have no idea.Why is it not just useless b******* with nothing to do?
Or maybe her wanting to know what is happening to the proposed academy in her domain ?”