Bike rider smashes up Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue van in ‘selfish’ attack

Volunteers at a local wildlife charity have been left devastated after their van was vandalised in the early hours of this morning (Sunday). Members of Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said a hammer had been used to smash the windscreen and both side windows of the van, which was parked in Hart Street. They said they believed the culprit had arrived on a pushbike.

The small group works hard to save injured wildlife and marine life across Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Staff described the attack as “mindless, senseless and selfish”. Read more: Swan nesting on River Freshney subjected to ‘further abuse’ after youths threw sticks at it Because of the damage to the vehicle, volunteers said they had no choice but to suspend some callouts.

They said they feared that animals might face delays receiving help. The happened at 3. 10am on Sunday, the charity said.

“Acts like this only go to show how low some people can stoop, the victims to this attack are the animals that we serve across Grimsby, Cleethorpes and often beyond, who may now struggle to receive the help they desperately need or face delays in help during difficult time critical rescues,” a spokesperson added. Shards of glass were all over the seats of the van (Image: Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue) Volunteers rely on the van to carry out “technical rescues”, such as water rescues, swan rescues, large wildlife transports, and those where a ladder is needed. Following the attack, the group is also seeking suitable nighttime storage for the van.

The charity believes that the person responsible was caught on CCTV arriving in the area just after 3am. The suspect was wearing a black body warmer with a navy blue jumper, dark trousers and black shoes. This person appeared to be carrying hammer, which they dropped a number of times before the incident.

Anyone in the Hart Street area who might have CCTV or dashcam footage has been asked to contact the charity. The spokesperson added: “We’ve accomplished a lot as a team over the last couple of months especially, with so much more working relations with other rescues, with whom we’ve built a very strong bond. We’ve joined the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and also arranged new and exciting courses for our volunteers to expand on their knowledge with specialist trainers.

“Our team are very excited [about] what is to come, but a situation like this is an attack on every volunteer and animal. So locals, and not so locals, we need your help … please check your CCTV, be extra vigilant where you can, and please donate to get our van fixed. Our wildlife depends on it and our wildlife depends on you.

” To donate to the charity, visit the Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue website. . READ NEXT: ‘Boxing will only get bigger’ says Grimsby’s Levi Giles after landmark title fight Homeless man whose tent was set on fire feels ‘humbled’ as donations flood in Dream holiday for Scunthorpe teen with stage three cancer – thanks to generous locals What life was like growing up in Grimsby from Woolworths to Netto Grimsby man feels ‘fobbed off’ after LHP ‘fail to clean up fly-tipping’ outside home Read More Related Articles I went metal detecting for the first time on the bank of the Humber Read More Related Articles Huge 3-mile-long sea defences to be built near Grimsby with 100,000 tons of rock.