A former Angus man has been left feeling like “a prisoner in his own home” after the London borough where he lives was caught up in riots that have swept the capital.
Former Arbroath FC footballer Steve Scott, who lives and works in west London near Ealing, said his family in the town have been in contact with him throughout the rioting to make sure he is okay.
He watched in horror on Monday night as rioters swarmed the leafy area, smashing windows, looting and setting fires to the main shopping areas in town.
The gangs also used the cover of the riots to commit burglaries as thinly-stretched police lines tackled troublespots elsewhere.
In one incident, a man suffered life-threatening injuries when he was attacked by rioters after he tried to extinguish a fire they had started in a bin.
Mr Scott, who moved to London from Arbroath 10 years ago, said he has been too afraid to go outside since the violence broke out across the capital a situation he said he never imagined himself being in.
However he said things have calmed down since Monday’s mayhem, with the affluent borough now resembling a ghost town after dark.
“It’s been absolutely frightening and a pretty scary experience in London over the past few days,” he told The Courier.
“It’s been like living in a war zone.”‘A prisoner in my own home’He added, “I still can’t quite believe what I have witnessed over the past couple of days.
“Some people have just been intent on causing trouble and it’s disgraceful.
“I never thought I’d be in a situation in this country’s capital when I would be too scared to go outside.”
Mr Scott’s parents still stay in Arbroath and have been watching the events unfolding in disbelief.
Keeping up to date every night via news channels, Mr Scott said they have understandably been worried sick.
“My family have been really worried and have been in constant contact throughout,” he said.
“My fiancee hasn’t been able to go out for three nights.
“I feel like a prisoner in my own home.”
Despite being one of the capital’s most prosperous boroughs, Ealing came under sustained attack from rioters.
Most of the vandalism was directed against shops and restaurants both independent and big brands.
Residents across the borough were advised by police to stay indoors and businesses to close after the violent scenes.’Ghost town’A group of residents had sought to rally supporters by posting fliers through the doors of thousands of homes and shops on Tuesday.
It encouraged a large public presence to protect the streets from 6pm onwards and suggested warning groups of youths off by beeping their car horns.
However Mr Scott said the area was extremely quiet as darkness fell, with very few people venturing outside.
Although they have come in for criticism in many quarters, Mr Scott said he had nothing but praise for the police.
“Our area is now like a ghost town with no one going out,” he added.
“The police have had a lot of stick, but they have done their best trying to prevent the trouble.”
Shopkeepers were also robbed and one was left with stitches after looters beat him up and demanded his money.
Mr Scott, who moved into journalism after university and now works for Sky Sports News, was shocked to hear a friend had been attacked during the riots.
“I know shop assistants who have been assaulted as people looted stores and it doesn’t bear thinking about,” he said.
“He’s okay now, but why should he be subjected to that kind of violence?
“It’s disgusting.”