Inside the ‘no go’ estate where families terrorised by drug gangs as young as TEN are afraid to leave home at night

AN estate has been dubbed a no-go zone by desperate families terrorised by drug gangs who use kids as young as TEN to distribute “gear”, it can be revealed.

A heartbroken mum called living in the Alway estate in South Wales “a nightmare without end” – while others have told how they are too scared to leave their homes, our investigation uncovered.

Huw EvansFamilies are being terrorised by drug gangs who use kids as young as TEN in Wales[/caption]

Huw EvansThe youths use electric bikes to get around[/caption]

Locals believe their problems stem from the feral behaviour of a group of around 15 boys aged between 10 and 13.

The youths – who swan around in puffer jackets to hide their wares – are being paid by drug dealers higher up the chain to collect and distribute “gear” around the estate on electric bikes.

A Sun reporter witnessed one of the dreaded exchanges first-hand.

Two cars pulled up side by side on a street running through the estate seconds before two schoolboys – no older than 11 – drew up along side them.

The boys stuffed small bags handed to them through smoked-out windows into their jacket pockets – before riding off at breakneck speed.

When night fell, around 20 boys aged between ten and 15 gathered at a roundabout on the estate to drink cans of beer.

Several arrived on electric bikes and intermittently cycled off before returning 20 minutes later.

Their activities – which residents say happen several times a day – have left the community terrified.

Shop owners have reported daily harassment, while the local priest says he spent thousands repairing his church because youths were climbing onto the roof – destroying slate tiles and guttering in the process.

Local mum Kelly cradled her three-year-old son as she spoke of her daily torment.

She said her husband – who is Portuguese – has regularly been the victim of racial abuse by the same boys, while their car has had its windows smashed and bodywork gouged.

“They are vile,” she said. “They roam the estate night and day, making our lives a nightmare without end.”

She said the drug exchanges happen “several times a day”.

“The dealers turn up in their cars and wait in the street here for the boys to turn up on their bikes.

“The drugs are passed to them through the windows and the kids shove them into their jackets.

‘THEY ARE VILE’

“It’s obvious what’s going on. Even on a boiling hot summer day, these boys have these big puffer jackets on.

“They have hoodies underneath and face masks so they can’t be recognised.

“The bikes they use have electric motors so they zip around.

“They tear up the green outside my front door and if my son is playing there, I’m worried sick they’ll ride through him.

“These bikes can really shift. They can do 40mph easily.

Huw EvansA mum called living in the Alway estate in South Wales “a nightmare without end”[/caption]

Huw EvansLocal clergyman Father Sam Helkvist spent thousands repairing his church[/caption]

Huw EvansLocals are seen in the estate in Wales[/caption]

“The police don’t want to know. If they ever try and stop the kids, they ride where the patrol cars can’t go so they’re always getting away with it.

“I’m forever finding the small plastic bags they carry the drugs in lying around in the grass. Sometimes I’ve even found bags still full of pills.

“A lot of the stuff they’re picking up is pills and cannabis, but I’ve heard everything is available if you want it.”

Kelly says her husband has been targeted with racist abuse. “They’ll shout ‘P***’ at him, which is actually almost amusing because he’s Portuguese.

“We’ve had them ringing our doorbell at 2am, then running away. And they destroyed our car.

“There’s no way I’ll leave the house at night. It’s too scary.

SCARED TO GO OUT

“We’ve got a camera on our front door now and I got good photos of the boys who were knocking.

“When I took them to the police, they didn’t want to know. Nothing was done.

“It was so much quieter when we first moved here but now it’s just terrifying.”

Another mum on the estate – who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by the gang – dubbed the boys “thugs”.

The 25-year-old said: “I’m terrified of going outside my home in the evenings because these young boys are running amok.

“If they see you, they’ll cycle up really close and try and intimidate you.

“I lock the doors and stay inside. It’s safer.

“I can still hear them riding around shouting and swearing. Sometimes I’ll see them through the window throwing stones and bricks at cars or properties. They’re thugs.”

Another local resident, a woman in her late 40s who asked not to be named, said: “They are making everyone around here miserable.

“Most taxi firms won’t send their drivers onto the estate any more, especially at night, and very few people are willing to leave their homes after dark. It’s just too intimidating.

‘FEEL NOTHING BUT FEAR’

“What I want to know is where the hell are these kids’ parents? Why aren’t they out here giving them a bollocking and dragging them back home?

“This used to be a lovely, peaceful and safe estate. I felt lucky to live here. Now I feel nothing but fear and despair.”

Local clergyman Father Sam Helkvist, focal priest at St Teilo’s Church at the centre of the Alway estate, said the adjacent vicarage had every single window smashed by the gang of boys in May this year.

He said: “It happened on the May Day Bank holiday. It was a really hot day and they were bored so they threw stones until they’d smashed the lot.

“I challenged them afterwards. I asked them why and they said ‘Because no one lives there.’ I told them that was no excuse. Just because it’s been unoccupied for a couple of years is no reason to destroy it.

“Sheer boredom is the problem. They’ve got absolutely nothing to do so they look for trouble as a means of entertainment.

“I’ve pleaded with the Government and the council for money to provide them with a youth club or other activity, but they give us nothing.

“They’re not bad kids, they’re just misguided.

“I think most of them will have grown out of it by the time they’re teenagers, but sadly some will become more troublesome and will inevitably end up in jail and it will almost certainly be as a result of involvement in drugs.

“They need positive role models, which I try to be, and they need positive activities to keep them busy. We can’t give up on these young people.”

Father Sam, who is in his early 30s, was brought up locally and has served the community since before he was ordained in 2016.

He says none of the boys has confided their involvement in the drugs trade to him, but says he would not be surprised if they were at the mercy of the older dealers.

“Hopefully, it’s a phase they’ll soon outgrow.”

He also hopes they’ll grow out of their desire to climb onto the St Teilo’s church roof, wrecking slates and guttering.

“I’ve had to spend almost £5,000 in the past couple of years replacing them,” he added.

Gwent Police have been contacted for comment.

Huw EvansResidents have told how they are too scared to leave their homes[/caption]

Huw EvansPolice are seen patrolling the estate[/caption]

Huw EvansGlass at a bus stop is smashed[/caption]

Huw EvansLocals say they are terrified of a gang of young boys[/caption]

Huw EvansOne local said they “feel nothing but fear and despair”[/caption]