POLICE are investigating a bizarre incident of wilful damage in Onchan where the 20 ft high mature fir trees on the boundary of a private garden were hacked down with a chainsaw while the owners were out at work.

The mature trees - at the bottom of the garden in Auburn Road, Onchan - have been left in the back lane of the property, virtually blocking pedestrian access and making it impassible to vehicles.

Owners of the property - Paul and Anna Adams - were devastated to arrive home and find their trees had been chopped down with a chainsaw.

They are also concerned that their property was being watched because it took only 90 minutes for the trees to disappear.

"I left the house at 7.45am and Anna left at 8.50am, but I had to go back at 10.20 to collect something I'd left behind," said Paul.

"I couldn't believe it when I got back to the house. The trees had been cut down to ground level and had been left in a massive heap in the back lane."

The fence at the bottom of the garden had been destroyed in the process, costing £450 to replace.

"I am convinced someone was watching the house until we left and then moved in when we drove away."

The felling of the 20 year old trees is the latest in a series of incidents which have occurred over a long period to the couple.

They have had their car tyres deflated, car aerials snapped off and damage caused to their garden, but they are now worried that it might escalate and something more serious might happen, such as a personal violent attack.

"We have endured this for many years," said Paul "and at times we have been very worried about what was happening and fearful of the consequences if we said anything to the police.

"But this is getting out of control and the felling of the trees was so deliberate and has completely devastated our garden. I can't believe that someone would want to do this to us. We don't understand.

"We believe that whoever did this - and we believe it is the same person who has probably done all the other things which have happened to us - then it is now getting to the point where something very serious might happen to myself or my wife."

Paul has lived in the same property for 48 years and with his wife since 1989.

He added: "We are peaceful, quiet people who never do any harm to anyone.

"We live a peaceful life and have been here for a very long time. We don't cause any disturbance in the street.

"We are not angry people, we aren't noisy - we feel we are good neighbours. But this is getting out of control and we have reluctantly decided we have got to do something about it.

"We're now worried that one day this might result in a very serious incident. I believe that whoever has been doing this is potentially very dangerous and has a warped mind."

Paul said that his wife's health had deteriorated in recent months and he believes it is directly as a result of the incidents which have happened to them in the last few years.

"Anna is definitely suffering. We talk about what has happened all the time. It has taken over our lives.

"And we have tried our best to get on with our lives and to say nothing. But it's now having an effect on her, so we decided we had to go to the police."

Police have advised the couple to set up CCTV cameras at their own expense in order to find out who is responsible for the wilful damage.

They are willing to spend the considerable amount of money it will cost to do this, but also know that it may still be very difficult to prove who may be the culprit, even with CCTV evidence.

"We have our own ideas about who may be behind this, but we also understand we need proof,” said Paul.

"We have been very reluctant to go to the police. But this is affecting our lives and it's now affecting my wife's health and the doctor has told us that her health issues are related to the stress we have had to endure. We have no alternative."

However, he also wanted to pay tribute to the many neighbours in Auburn Road who have given their continuing support during this time. 

"They have been wonderful and this would have been much more difficult for us without their support."

A spokesman for Onchan Police said: "We are investigating this incident and our enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to contact PC David Thommeny on 675190."