A victim of hate

Mother-of-five Adele Murphy welcomed Mr Straw into her home last month after challenging him to see conditions on the Ravenscliffe estate.

But her husband Jack says a barrage of intimidation and attacks has escalated since the visit.

"The name calling started again," he said. "Adele's been called a grass for highlighting what goes on here.

"These people didn't like the fact that she was getting all the attention when Jack Straw came. They are frightened something will be done."

And the family are now living in constant fear of being attacked by gangs of youths who roam the area because Adele dared to speak out.

Last night a group of about 20 thugs smashed their daughter's bedroom window with a rock, pelted the property with eggs and shone laser beams into her children's eyes.

Mrs Murphy and her children, including her five-year-old daughter Melissa who suffers from cerebral palsy, locked themselves inside the house in Larwood Avenue and huddled together in a single room until police arrived.

The children stayed the night with relatives but Mrs Murphy and Jack, who had been at college when the attack took place, kept watch in case the trouble makers returned.

It was the latest in a long line of attacks and intimidation against the family.

Mrs Murphy, 33, said: "These thugs just won't leave me alone.

"Things seem to have got worse since I invited Jack Straw to come and take a look at the estate for himself.

"I am sick and tired of the abuse. If I don't move out soon I will crack up and my kids will be without a mother.

"I know who these people are, and they are only doing it because I actually stuck up for myself and contacted Mr Straw. But I did it for everyone on the estate - so they wouldn't have to live in fear either."

And today Mr Straw said: "I am very distressed to hear this. This is an example of just the type of thing that we are trying to deal with.

"I shall be seeking a report about the incident from the local chief of police.

"I am very concerned about what I have heard and I will be seeking a full report from the local police.

"I will be getting in touch with Mrs Murphy to discuss her problems."

Mrs Murphy has criticised police for failing to protect her family and said it was the second time her house has been attacked by youths.

She said: "The police tell me it is difficult for them to do anything about it and I have been asking Bradford Council for months to move us to another area, but no one wants to know.

"That's why I went straight to the top and contacted Jack Straw - if anyone can help, he can."

When Mr Straw visited the estate last month he told residents conditions would improve, but that it would be at least two years for new tenancy laws, which allow trouble makers to be evicted, to have any impact.

Mr Murphy added that Jack Straw had bitten off more than he could chew by saying the estate could be sorted out in two years.

He said: "If he fails here he'll fail everywhere. The country is full of estates like ours."

Chairman of Bradford Council's housing committee Councillor Barry Midwood said he had referred the incident to the chief housing officer today and the Council's enforcement team would be investigating.

Sergeant Paul Jeffrey, Eccleshill community safety officer, said Mrs Murphy and her family had received police protection in the past and panic alarms had been fitted to her home.

He said: "It's a concern and we will be seeking to increase police presence on that part of the estate.

"But Adele has been an outspoken member of the community which has created animosity.

"While nothing can excuse what these people has done, her media presence has perhaps exacerbated the situation"

Ward Councillor Peter Lancaster (Lab, Eccleshill) said: "I sympathise with Adele because she's been so public spirited in the interests of Ravenscliffe.

"I will do everything I can to make her life on the estate more bearable."

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