Dover House's victims

5 April 2012
The Weekender

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Flat 2

Mark Worrall, 38, is a massage therapist for the NHS, while Thierry Martin, 33, is a purser for Eurostar. They were among the first to move into Dover House in September 1999. Mr Martin was set upon by a mob while riding his £2,500 scooter yards from his flat a month after he moved in.

Mr Worrall said: "Thierry was driving his scooter near Dover House when a group of at least four black youths blocked the road and pushed him off his bike. He went crashing to the ground and they leapt on him. One yanked his helmet off and another smashed him over the head. Then they ran off, one of them driving on the scooter." Police later caught a teenage boy riding the scooter but could not prove that he was involved in the attack.

Flat 1

Nanna Erbe, 34, and her designer/director husband Danny, 36, moved out of Dover House in March 2001 - after living there for less than a year - when Nanna became pregnant with their first child Nola, now nine months old.

They decided the risk from the street gangs was too great and moved to Golders Green. Mrs Erbe said: "The final straw came when we heard that our friends in Flat 20 had been attacked while walking in the park. I started picking up my husband from the Tube station, because I was worried about him walking home, and we got permission from the landlord to leave early - even though we had signed a year-long contract."

Flat 5

Nicolas Rodier, 22, from Paris, is a waiter at a Japanese restaurant. He moved into Dover House a year and a half ago. He was mugged last September by gang of three black men yards from his home.

He said: "They approached me while I was riding my bike by the park and screamed 'give me your bike!'. I tried to keep going but they chased after me and tried to knock me off the bike. I pedalled furiously and, just as I thought I'd got away, one of them pulled out an enormous plank of wood and smashed me over the head with it. Blood poured down my face. Somehow I managed to keep on going. "The worst part was that I had to wait nine hours in casualty at Camberwell hospital."

Flat 6:

Financial researcher John Corcoran, 24, and girlfriend Emma, 22, moved out of Dover House last October after John was attacked by 15 youths who left a footprint mark in his face. Emma had her bag snatched on a separate occasion. Mr Corcoran said: "It did not seem like a crime hotspot when we moved in but within a year of living there it became oppressive. All of a sudden there were groups of people hanging around the streets looking for trouble. One day as I was walking back home a group of 15 young lads, all black, charged at me. I was kicked and punched to the ground. I was terrified one would have a knife.

"When they had had their fun they sauntered off. But they left a footprint mark on my face and the inside of my face was cut to shreds. It was a motiveless attack - they did not even try to steal my wallet. We moved to Leytonstone - it's a much gentler place."

Flat 15Karl White, 28, a training manager for Muji, was beaten and mugged by two black gang members a week before he moved out of Dover House on 18 January. He moved into his girlfriend's flat in Plaistow.

He said: "I was on my way to see my new flat when I realised two guys in their twenties had caught up with me. They punched me in the face and chin and on the top of the head. I went sprawling. "Before I knew it they had taken my wallet and mobile phone. Then they demanded I tell them my PIN number.

"I gave them a false one but I think they could tell I was lying and they punched me again and threatened to pull a knife on me. I gave another false one but by that time they started to get impatient. They gave up and ran off."

Flat 8:

Jo, 26, a nurse at a private clinic in Brixton, was mugged at the end of January on her way back from work. She said: "I had been out with friends and only had 100 yards or so left to walk when I heard the sound of someone running towards me. He wanted my bag.

"To start with I resisted but then he raised his arm and I thought he was going to hit me so I gave in. I think he was probably a junkie."

Flat 12

Neil Juddes, 28, is a former yacht captain. Adam, 31, is a sound engineer. Both were mugged within weeks of each other.

Neil moved into Dover House three months ago. He said: "I was walking home after a drink with friends in Brixton when I was attacked from behind. "I felt this crack to the back of my head. Somebody had hit me with either a brick or a metal rod and as I fell down I saw about four guys standing around me.

"They were only about 14 or 15, and black. I bounced onto the floor and, as I tried to get up, one of them punched me full on in the face and then started rifling through my pockets. "But I had hidden my credit card in my shoe and my mobile was in a deep inner pocket. The only thing they managed to get was £45 in cash."

Adam said: "I was heading back home from the West End when I was mugged. I managed to punch the guy hard in the nose. Then he kicked me in the knee cap and I fell down. "He got my rucksack, containing my wallet, phone and new mini-disk player I had just bought for £300."

Flat 16

Sarah, 29, is a mature student studying philosophy. Her boyfriend Tom, 30, is an investment banker originally from Germany. Tom has been mugged twice in the 18 months they have lived in Dover House. Sarah has kept a log detailing a horrific list of robberies, muggings and even a firebombing in the past few months.

Tom said: "I have resorted to running home from work. People ask me why I live here. Sometimes I don't know myself but I don't want to give in to these street gangs. I am a guest of this country, and I don't like to complain, but back in Berlin there is nothing quite like this level of violence.

"The second time I was attacked 12 to 15 black youths jumped on me and started pushing me around. "There were people walking past who could see what was happening but no one did anything to help me.

"I ran to a local Chinese takeaway and staff there called the police. They had seen what had happened but told me if they had interfered they would have risked revenge attacks. It really feels like anarchy rules here."

Flat 7:

A 31-year-old woman and her three-and-a-half year old daughter moved into Dover House in December. The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was kicked by young thugs. She said: "Two little guys approached me and asked for money. They couldn't have been any more than 10 or 11 years old. I said I did not have any and told them to go away but one of them kicked me hard before running off. I make sure that I never walk outside alone at night, and if I do go out I take a taxi. It's just not worth the risk."

Flat 18

Liam Kelly, 31, an office manager for the magazine Dazed and Confused, lives with his girlfriend Caitriona Boal, 29, who works for Debenhams. Liam was punched in the face when he tried to open his front door and he has had his car broken into. Caitriona said: "Over the two years that we have been here, we have watched people come and go because of the crime problem here. Liam was attacked by people who were coming out of the flat as he was trying to get in.

"I believe the only reason I have not been a victim of the muggers is because I am so very cautious. Most days I get home from work and stay in all night. If I do go out after work I always catch a taxi home.

"Liam always rings me when he is on his way home and then I count down the minutes it should take. You become a paranoid living here but it is a lovely flat and the rent is very decent."

Flat 19

Internet developer Richard Locke, 25, lived at Dover House for a year. He moved to Greenwich in January 2001 because of fears for his safety. He said: "I was not mugged but the longer I lived in the area the worse my fear grew. I got sick of hearing gunshots in the distance."

Flat 20

This flat has seen three sets of tenants since 1999. All have been attacked and have moved out. The first tenants were office manager Janet Kolind, 30, and her boyfriend Rohan Freeman, 28, a commercial director.

Ms Kolind, originally from Denmark, moved into Dover House in September 1999, just after it opened. The couple moved out in February 2001 to Pimlico after they were attacked in December 2000 by a gang of eight black youths.

She said: "We were one of the first people to move into Dover House, and it was beautiful. I loved the flat but - after a year of waking up to screams and gunshots, and then being mugged - it was time to go."

Marketing manager Nicola Hale, 25, and Angharad Jones, 25, who works for the BBC, were the next tenants. They moved into Dover House in March 2001 and were out again by November the same year.

Miss Hale said: "Both Harry and I carried rape alarms given to us by the police and we never walked anywhere alone at night."

Simon Morgan, 26, moved out only days after being attacked in November 2001. The 6ft 4in rugby player, who works in Leicester Square, was putting his key in the door when a gang of four black youths ambushed him. They took his mobile and wallet before leaving him in a pool of blood.

He said: "I just want to move on now and forget about it. It was a terrible experience."

Flat 25

Jamie, a former researcher for financial companies, moved into Dover House in October. By November he had been mugged. His flatmate Martin, 28, a charity worker, has had his mobile phone stolen and has been followed by a drug user who demanded cash.

Flat 27

Robert Wilson, 43, who moved in 18 months ago, has been mugged twice in the last year. He said: "The second time was much worse. I was coming home from helping an elderly lady with some DIY she needed doing when a group of 20 to 30 men jumped on me and smashed me to the ground. They screamed: 'Don't f***ing move!' and one of them held my head and face tight to the ground. I really thought my time was up. I was petrified. They wanted my credit cards, but I don't have any and they let me go after taking my mobile. I did not resist because it is just not worth losing your life over a few material possessions. I know they will never get caught."

The current resident of Flat 9 has been a victim of crime but is unwilling to talk about the incident.

The current residents of flats 1,3,4,6,10,11,13,14,15,17,19,20 and 24 have so far escaped becoming victims although the majority have only recently moved in over the past month.

Flats 21, 22, 23 and 26 are empty - their residents left after becoming victims of crime.

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