A MOTHER has said it was only by chance that her two-year-old son was not in the firing line from a metal pellet which came hurtling into the window of their first-floor flat.

Lorely Ford was sat with her partner and son watching television when they heard an “almighty smash”.

They quickly discovered that a metal ball had smashed the exterior pane of the bay window. It failed to break through the internal side of the double glazing.

Ms Ford said her son, who was “physically shaking”, often sits in the window and looks out at the buses, including hours before the incident on Wednesday.

The Broadstone family called police but they were told no officers would be sent to the scene.

Ms Ford, 33, posted about the incident on social media and was shocked to be inundated with messages from residents across the conurbation reporting incidents involving pellets being fired at properties.

The Dorset HealthCare worker said she had been told about incidents from recent months in Moordown, Redhill, Parkstone and Canford Heath, including one at a nursery.

“We were told by police on the phone that there were no signs of aggression,” Ms Ford said.

“If one of us had been physically hurt by it then they would have sent officers out but what about the mental impact.”

She added: “Even if it was kids who did this they have got a rush from what they have done and they are going to repeat it and it could escalate into something worse.”

Describing the distress caused during the incident, Ms Ford said: “We were all sat together in the lounge watching TV by the window when we heard this almighty smash noise. My left ear with ringing for two hours.

“It was so bad that my two-year-old jumped up.

"He was really upset and physically shaking. I had to hug him to try to calm him down.”

Ms Ford said a window fitter, who came to replace the glass yesterday, said the damage was serious and if it was single glazed, it would have shattered the whole panel and gone into the lounge.

Bournemouth Echo:

A Dorset Police spokeswoman said they received a report that a window of a property in Grange Road was broken by a metal pellet at 4.44pm on November 16.

“As the incident was no longer in progress and there was no immediate threat, officers did not attend,” the spokeswoman said.

“The crime report was assessed and allocated to an investigator, who is progressing enquiries. The local neighbourhood team has also been made aware.”

“Dorset Police takes all crime reports seriously and will conduct all proportionate lines of enquiry to investigate reported incidents," the spokeswoman added.

“Should the force become aware of a spate of crime in a particular part of the county, officers from the local neighbourhood policing team will be assigned to the area to conduct high visibility patrols and gather information and intelligence that will contribute to long-term problem-solving initiatives.

“They will also be looking for any opportunity to identify individuals involved through finding footage from home CCTV cameras and asking for witnesses.

“Anyone who believes they have been a victim of crime, but has not reported it to police, they should do so as this will also help to develop an intelligence picture, which will assist our investigations.”

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