A CHESTER-le-Street man subjected to a number of attacks on his house and car has called on police to give him added protection.

Thugs have twice slashed all four tyres on David Shouksmith's car and have thrown rocks through his living room window, leaving him fearful of the next attack.

Mr Shouksmith, of Gloucester Close, Great Lumley, is at a loss to explain the attacks on his property, but is sure it is a case of mistaken identity.

The 50-year-old registrar said: "I am mystified as to why anyone would want to do this to me. I've never harmed or upset anyone in my life.

"Somebody has decided they've got it in for me but the police have said there is little they can do at the moment and that's not good enough.

"Two cars parked outside my house have had their tyres slashed, then I came back from a night out last Friday to find police outside my house and the living room window smashed. That's going to cost me £1,500 to fix.

"Just before my window was smashed, someone did the same to the equivalent house on an adjacent street - it appears they wanted my house but got the wrong street."

A police spokesman said: "There is no obvious motive although we can't discount the possibility of a grudge element.

"We have launched an investigation and if anybody has any information would urge them to contact the police."