A village resident, who works within the Critical Care team at a Nottingham Hospital, is appealing to anyone who may have information about the person(s) who deliberately damaged her car in Ruddington to come forward.
NHS nurse Georgia Pentz lives in a property without dedicated parking along Easthorpe Street. She drove home earlier this week, after her usual 12.5hr shift in the Intensive Treatment Unit at The Queen’s Medical Centre, to find the nearest available parking space to her house was on Cumberland Close. She parked up there for the night and went to bed, exhausted, ahead of another 12.5hr stint the following day.
She says: “Okay, so picture this. The next morning before your shift, you go to your car to find that some ‘delight’ has stabbed two of your tyres. You drive your car (with flat tyres) to work because your colleagues and your patients need you.”
Georgia believes that the tyres (one pictured above) had been punctured deliberately using a screwdriver or other sharp object. She says she took the decision to continue to work as they were expensive ‘run flat’ tyres which can be driven on safely at up to 50mph for short journeys. However, as a result, Georgia was forced to spend her following day off arranging the recovery of her car and footing a bill of £320 for two new tyres “…although not really a ‘day off’ because I start nights tonight.”
The exasperated nurse continues: “But don’t worry. I can pick up extra shifts on my days off to pay for them. I mean, nurses don’t need days off, right? So – to whoever thought it was necessary to do this to me – I really do hope you’re pleased with yourself. From a tired, upset and extremely broke ITU nurse: thank you.”
This distressing incident happened as the residents of Cumberland Close are petitioning Nottinghamshire County Council for more parking restrictions along their cul-de-sac – saying they’re fed up with inconsiderately parked vehicles causing safety hazards and obstruction issues.
Asked whether she thinks the two may be connected, Georgia adds: “There is a possibility that it is a disgruntled resident, as I have been challenged about parking there before, and was challenged the night before it happened. But that could be purely coincidental and I wouldn’t like to speculate.”
Gary Choo, who is leading the householders’ campaign, tells us: “I’m so sorry that this has happened to a fellow resident. I think any accusation is unfounded and I certainly to do not condone such behaviour. I’m trying to get parking restrictions including residents’ permits. This is to ensure that people who live in the area can park their cars safely.”
The apparent criminal damage to Georgia’s car has been reported to Nottinghamshire Police. If you have additional information about this incident (which happened on Tuesday night, 11th August) or you have captured CCTV or dashcam footage which could help officers with their enquiries, you’re asked to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE 22nd AUGUST:
After other reports of criminal damage to vehicles whilst parked on Cumberland Close, Rushcliffe Police have been conducting investigations, and CCTV footage is being examined. During a recent visit by officers, drivers of cars parking in an inconsiderate and possibly illegal manner were spoken to. It’s reported that one vehicle had an ‘inconsiderate parking’ notice placed on it.
Residents’ spokesperson Gary Choo says: “It is disturbing that there have been reports of alleged criminal damage to car tyres parked in and around Cumberland Close and the Easthorpe Street area. According to the Police, this has been an ongoing issue for some time. The parking petition was set up to highlight the irresponsible parking by some drivers on Cumberland Close. This prevented the residents gaining access to their homes and the safe use of pavements. It is good that the Police have responded in such a positive manner.”
There’s also good news for Georgia. She has now been allowed to park her car on one of the residents’ driveway.
