Home Defence

Limping through the door of his new council flat, Tony Winston found the décor inside as uncheery as the surroundings outside. He shouldn't have been surprised. Hull City Council only gave them the place because they felt under pressure from the government to house veterans returning from Afghanistan. Tony was convinced that was the reason why they gave him a place in what many considered to be the worst council estate in the city. The area looked dreadful enough but he was a little glad that he didn't pass a graveyard of burnt out cars and boarded up or smashed windows, which he believed to be stereotypical of any council estate.

Tony didn't grow up on a council estate. Instead, he was raised in a semi-detatched house in a middle-class part of Hull. That was probably why his parents were a little shocked when he announced that he was going to join the army after he left school. He didn't let that stop him and his parents, at least his father, supported the decision, although they were both extremely worried when he went off for his first tour in Afghanistan. Fortunately, he came back unscathed. However, he wasn't so fortunate in his second tour of duty when an IED exploded nearby sending a hail of shrapnel his way. Most of the fragments missed him completely and several more were stopped by his body armour but three pieces pierced his right leg. The doctors removed the shrapnel but his wound was such that he would forever walk with a limp. Thus, he was discharged from the army.

These thoughts weren't present in his mind as he walked around his new home. It wasn't much, a small one bedroom flat with a matching kitchen and larger room that could pass for a living room. There was no furniture but he would eventually add his own. The biggest eye opener came when he switched on the light in the bedroom. He was nearly blinded by the bright orange wallpaper. That would have to come off straight away. After a further inspection and making sure there was running water and the toilet worked properly, Tony left.

After locking the front door, he turned to see three teenage boys standing in front of him. The trio made an interesting combination in Tony's mind. One boy was white, one black and the third mixed race. All of them sported baseball caps and clothing bearing various designer logos.

“Do you need help moving in?” the white boy and shortest of the three asked underneath a blue Adidas cap, which appeared a size too large.

Not wanting to sound ungrateful, Tony decided to be truthful. “I haven't moved in yet. I was only give the keys this morning and just having a look around.

All three boys seemed to accept this answer. The spokesman responded, “If you need any help when you move in, let us know.”

Tony smiled, nodded and said, “I will” as the trio sauntered off.

Limping back through the estate, he thought to himself, “Maybe the Forbes Estate isn't as bad as its reputation suggested. He remembered when he announced to his family and friends that he was moving there, they all grimaced as if in physical pain. His good mate Rodney compared the estate to Beirut and told him a few horrors stories he heard about crimes committed there. Tony now wondered if his friend might not be exaggerating a bit.

Rodney's opinion remained unchanged when Tony met him in the pub later that evening. When Tony recounted the three lads' kind offer, Rodney scoffed, “The reason they want to help you move in is so they can see what you have so they can burgle you at a later date.”

Tony was now in two minds over his friend's statement. Rodney's words could possibly be true but if they were, those lads would be quite disappointed. What he owned was of little value. The most expensive item he had was a small 21 inch television set that was five years old and a DVD player about the same age. He hadn't even upgraded to Blu-Ray yet. Plus, there were only five DVDs in his collection. His CD player was a small portable one and he only had eight CDs. Therefore, there was nothing for anybody to steal. His thoughts were interrupted by Rodney's further ramblings. “What you should do is move your stuff in at two in the morning; this way no one can see what you have.”

Deep down, he believed that his friend had a good point. It was better to be safe than sorry and so he agreed to the suggestion that he put his possessions in Rodney's car and move into his new home in the early hours of the following morning.

It took less than half an hour to unload Rodney's car and put everything into the new flat. Tony would have plenty of time to assemble things and put them where he wanted. He was relieved that they managed to accomplish the task in such a short time and without making any noticeable noise and waking up the neighbours. That was his biggest dread. Rodney stayed long enough to help assemble his bed before heading off into the night. Tony thanked his friend as he left leaving Tony to settle down for his first night in his new home.

A full day had passed before the three boys showed up at his door to renew their offer of assistance and that was most likely prompted by the delivery van which showed up with his new couch. Being an engineer, he was able to set that up on his own with little trouble. He could see the disappointed look on all three faces when he told them that he had already moved in and their assistance wasn't needed. Therefore, he reached into his pocket and gave each boy two quid for their offer. Each of them grunted a “Thanks” before leaving. When they did, Tony thought the actions of both the black and mixed race boys were a bit strange. It was like they were trying to look into his flat to see what he had. Perhaps, Rodney had got to him and he was just imagining it.

Tony's next few days were very uneventful, which was how he preferred it. No neighbours came to his door with flowers or a 'Welcome to the neighbourhood' cake. Better yet, he saw nothing of the three young lads. At least until the morning he left to catch the bus to his physio appointment. Leaving the estate, he spied the three lads, along with two more boys of the same age, hanging around nearby. Sneaking a glance at them, he was certain that at least one of them was staring at him. He couldn't be sure so he got his suspicions under control and went to catch his bus.

When he returned home later that afternoon, Tony was slightly relieved that the boys had moved on. Entering the front door of his flat, he heard strange noises which appeared to coming from his back bedroom window. Moving as fast as his injured leg would allow, he burst through his bedroom door, walking stick at the ready to repel and would be intruder. The loud entrance into the room had the desired effect because the figure he saw at the window quickly vanished and was nowhere to be seen by the time he got there.

Rodney and his family were right! People on the estate were out to burgle him. While he didn't have anything worth stealing, he also knew that he didn't want any uninvited strangers in his flat.

Things he needed to make himself feel safe in his own home didn't cost as much as he feared. Besides, he had been in a war that was funded by a government who wanted to fight it on a shoe string budget, so he knew how to make the most of what he had. On both of his back windows, he secured hooks that would hold the thick rubber cable that he would fasten across them whenever he went out. It didn't take him long and he felt a sense of pride of being able to apply something that he had learned in Afghanistan. Now, he felt secure in the knowledge that his home would be safe from intruders.

Nothing happened the first couple of times he went out. Each time he returned, he could easily see that his trap hadn't been sprung. Although relieved, he knew better than to let his guard down. Besides, he felt a strong sense of security each time he erected his defences before going out.

Returning home one afternoon, he was passed by a fire engine quickly followed by a police car, both were heading in the direction of his flat. The absence of any smoke in the sky only served to inflame his curiosity further. However, as his flat came into view, he spotted the fire and police vehicles parked outside and a small crowd now milling around it. Instantly, he knew his trap had been sprung.

He had to fight extremely hard to hold back the desire to erupt into hysterical laughter when he rounded the corner and witnessed the sight behind his flat. Seeing the boy who had been the spokesman for the trio who had come to his door on the first day, offering their services, now tangled up in the cables, close to tears and screaming, “Get me the fuck out of here!” while the firemen worked frantically to free him was one of the funniest things he had ever seen. All he could do was stand there in amusement watching the spectacle before him.

Thoughts of “No one will ever try to break into his flat again,” danced around in his mind as he hobbled closer to the scene. His thoughts were disturbed by an excited shout of “That's him!” Turning to the sound, Tony noticed a man in his mid-thirties and who looked quite similar to the boy in his trap, practically jumping up and down in front of two police officers while pointing at him.

Both officers, a male and a female walked up to him without hesitation. The male cop asked him, “Do you live in the ground floor flat?”

When Tony nodded his affirmation, the officer continued, “They just had to cut a boy out from your back window. He was all caught up in a bunch of wires and from what I see, those wires were deliberately put there.”

Tony's enjoyment of watching someone being cut from his trap began to turn sour. He asked the officer, “What was he doing trying to get into my flat in the first place?”

“He smelled gas,” the accusing man blurted out. “Your flat and this entire building could have caught fire.” Then turning to the officers, “I want him charged, my son could have been seriously hurt.”

Tony scowled at the man and mumbled, “Whatever.”

Sensing a confrontation, the female officer turned to the aggrieved father, “We'll handle this,” then she suggested that she, her colleague and Tony go inside his flat.

Tony led the two officers around to the front door of his place but not before the father got in, “I hope you charge him.”

Stunned at the obvious load of bull that had fallen at his feet, Tony grumbled another “Whatever,” as he led the two officers to his flat. Inside, he watched the two officers examine his bedroom window with the now cut cables around it. It didn't take a forensic expert to deduce that the tresspasser had got himself well and truly tangled up in the cables. He was filled with a great sense of pride seeing that his trap had worked so well.

The male officers voice, “You can't go around setting traps like this,” brought his celebrations to an end. Bemusement turning to annoyance compelled him to ask the officer, “What was I supposed to do, just let him break into my flat?”

“No, of course not,” the officer returned. “However, it is against the law to set traps that could deliberately snare or hurt someone. That boy could have been seriously hurt.”

“Well he should have thought of that when he tried to break into my house.”

“Maybe so, but the bottom line is that you can't go setting traps like that, especially when they could seriously hurt someone. Now, I'm only going to give you a caution this time but if it happens again, you could be charged.”

After the two officers left, Tony could not help feeling completely frustrated. All he wanted to do was keep his house safe. After all, this was a high crime estate and why shouldn't he be able to defend his home? But he knew that if he did it in the way that proved successful for him, he would be the one in the dock or maybe that was why it was such a high crime area. The law protected the criminals and not the victims.

Paranoia gripped him each time he had to go out after that. Even short trips to the local shop made him feel uncomfortable. Adding to his anxieties was the fact that everyone he saw from the estate was staring at him. Again, he was made to feel as if was the criminal when in fact, he was the victim. That paranoia turned into reality two weeks later.

Seconds after he walked through the front door, he could hear his back bedroom window being slapped back and forth by the wind. Without further hesitation, Tony rushed to the window in question. The same window where the would-be intruder was caught in his trap a fortnight earlier. It had been forced open. Leaving the window for a moment, he searched his flat to see if anything had been taken. To his surprise and relief, his two most valuable possession, his TV and CD player were still there.

“Perhaps they're trying to send me a message,” he thought to himself as he returned to his bedroom to address the window. That was when he saw it! The picture frame that contained the medals he'd won in Afghanistan was missing and the medals with it.

When he phoned the police, Tony wasn't sure if he was doing it because the medals had sentimental value or so he could say “I told you so” to them. He was somewhat glad that when he opened the door, it was the same two officers who had cautioned him about the trap. The officers were sympathetic but also pesimistic about finding the culprit who broke into his flat.

“It was probably that kid who got caught in my cables,” he offered.

“Maybe so,” the male officer replied, “But we need proof it was him. After all, by building that trap, you did invite trouble.”

“What the fu...!” Tony exlcaimed trying to hold back the last word. “I was only trying to defend my home.”

“I know it sounds bad,” the female officer said soothingly. “But like we said, you can't go setting traps for people.”

He desperately wanted to counter with the fact that the only injury the trespasser would have suffered was humiliation and that would have taught him a lesson. However, he knew it wasn't the point. Therefore, he listened while the two officers assured him they would do all they could to find his medals. He only wished he could share their optimism.

Only a bizarre sense of curiosity tempted him to visit a jeweller's not too far from home. The watches, rings, necklaces and other bling held no interest for him while he browsed the shop under the watchful gaze of a middle aged woman. Then he saw them! The more he stared at them, the more he couldn't believe what he was seeing but there they were, his two medals. Whoever had stolen them didn't even have the discretion to sell them somewhere he had no chance of ever discovering them.

“How much for the medals?” he enquired.

“Ten pounds each,” the lady answered without missing a beat.

He didn't know whether to be relieved he could buy his medals back so cheaply or offended that the medals he had been awarded for risking his life were of so little worth. Whichever it was, Tony handed over twenty pounds he never should have had to spend and got his medals back.

When he finally got through to them on the phone, the two officers handling his case told him they were glad he his medals were returned to him but they also stated that they still had no clue who had taken them and were still investigating. After he hung up, it occurred to Tony as to why the officers never thought of checking the local jeweller's to see if his medals were there. It led him to conclude that they simply weren't interested. Which was why he didn't even bother to report it when his flat was broken into a second time.

The intruders broke in through the same window. On examination, it appeared that whoever had broken in knew exactly how the council had repaired it. The window pane had been removed without breaking and placed neatly on the ground. “Very clever,” Tony thought as he went to see if anything had been taken. The small television was gone. It wouldn't have fetched £20, so he concluded that someone was sending him a message. Therefore, he was going to send one back.

Not wanting to wait for the council, he repaired the window himself, making sure it was super secure. If someone wanted to break in now, they would have to smash the glass. That led to his next idea. He knew if he used cables to ensnare anyone, he might get arrested. So, he used thinner, more fragile ones that would break if disturbed and set off the flash bangs he was rigging them up to.

Needing a new television set, he chose a large forty inch plasma screen with all the latest technology from the local shop. He arranged to have it delivered in the daytime when he thought there would be a great chance of people around to witness the delivery.

When the new set arrived, Tony couldn't actually see anyone in the neighbourhood witness him accept his new acquisition but he was certain they were there, watching and licking their lips at the prospect of gaining a state of the art television. After signing all of the paperwork, he set about the task of setting it up. With his knowledge, he was able to do that quite quickly. He realised that his new toy made his living room appear less empty. As he sat down on the sofa, he thought he could get quite used to this; plopped in front of a large forty inch television all day watching game shows, soaps and documentaries.

Tony started a new ritual on the following day. Everyday, he would leave the house about the same time and walk past the bus stop on the estate to another one further down the road. This way, he had a better chance of hearing his flash bangs go off. It didn't matter if he had anywhere to actually go, he just made sure he was out of his house for at least two hours.

When, after two weeks, no one had taken his bait, he began to go out in the evenings as well. Often he would go to the local pub where he at times sensed some of the regulars giving him death stares but wherever he went, he always made sure he was within ear shot of his home made alarm system.

Several more weeks of nothing did not deter his routine despite thoughts creeping into his mind that it had all blown over and he was safe. However, Afghanistan taught him that this was simply a lull in the fighting. Therefore, he continued his rituals and each day, made sure that his alarm system was set. He knew it was only a matter of time.

One evening, while sipping a quiet pint at the local, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang. He could only smile when he heard someone remark, “That sounded like a gun shot.” He knew exactly what it was. He turned in the direction of his flat in time to hear more loud bands accompanied by brief, bright flashes of light. While enjoying the brief light show, another patron commented, “It sounds like a war's going off down there.” Crushing the desire to burst out in laughter, Tony took one last long drink from his pint and slipped out of the pub to see how well his masterpiece had worked.

Quickly arriving home, Tony's first instinct was to see if his bait had been taken. He was somewhat relieved to find the television still there in his living room and elated to see that his deterrent had worked perfectly. All of the flash bangs had been set off in the attempt to force open the window. Without hesitation, he went around to the back window and made sure all of the cables and flash bang casings were picked up and disposed of. Using a torch, he searched the window frame for any scorch marks and when he thought he saw one, he spent a half an hour scrubbing it until he was sure it was gone. It was only then, he could congratulate himself over the fact that his defences had worked and anyone would think twice before breaking into his place.

It came as no surprise when the police came calling at his door the next morning. He warmly greeted the same two officers who had come before. The male officer immediately informed him, “We had had a complaint and have a warrant to search the property.” What Tony was not expecting was the team of five forensic officers who came storming through the front door and immediately went to the back bedroom. Plus, he saw two more forensic officers heading in the direction of the rubbish bins.

At the beckon of the two officers, he sat down and waited for what seemed an eternity. Nerves mixed with the optimistic hope they wouldn't find anything warred for control of his mind. He was almost relieved when two forensic officers asked to speak to the two constables waiting with him. After a few minutes of wondering 'what next?,' the female officer came back into the living room and announced, “Anthony Winston, we are arresting you for attempting to cause actual bodily harm.”

Disbelief followed Tony all the way to the station and then into the interrogation room. Still, he couldn't deny the cables and flashbang casings weren't his. The interrogating officer further informed him, “Our forensic team found traces of powder on your back window frame, in spite of your attempt to wash it away.”

“I was only protecting my flat,” Tony defended.

“Maybe so, but you can't go around setting traps, especially if they can injure people.

“They weren't meant to injure anyone, just scare them off.”

That explanation also seemed to fall on deaf ears. Tony was charged and given a date to appear before the magistrate. During the three weeks he waited for his court appearance, further insult to injury was added when he received a letter from the council giving him notice to quit his property. The reason he was having to leave; anti- social behaviour.

On the day he appeared before the magistrate, Tony hoped that he could explain that he was only trying to prevent people from breaking into his home. He further hoped that because he had served his country, they would be lenient with him. Both counts turned out to be incredibly naïve. On the argument of home defence, the magistrate spelled out, “It is against the law to go around setting traps in your home. It is even more unlawful if those traps can cause harm to persons.”

His second hope was crushed even more spectacularly. It would be just his bad luck that the magistrate hearing the case would be a member of CND and a strong anti- war advocate. “In spite of what you went through in Afghanistan, we cannot tolerate troops returning home and using what they learned in the war on innocent British civilians.”

“Innocent?” Tony questioned in his mind. They were breaking into my home.

The magistrate continued, “We must send a clear message to all veterans that just because they served their country, it doesn't mean they can return home and terrorize innocent people. I know I might be criticised in the right wing press for this but I am sentencing you to thirty days in prison.”

Shock and disbelief made Tony go numb. He hardly felt the two officers put the handcuffs on him and begin to lead him away. He was now a criminal when all he was trying to do was defend his home.