A young mum who has suffered a year of vandalism and abuse is terrified to leave her flat and petrified to stay after an arsonist firebombed her neighbour.
Police are investigating links between the arson attack in Waldringfield, Fryerns, on December 27 and another three within a half-mile radius over the last few days.
Keeley Crawford, 22, of Waldringfield, who has been unable to sleep since the firebug struck, claims the smoke in the flat has aggrevated her six-month-old daughter's chest infection.
Clutching baby Alyssa - terrified mother Keeley Picture: ROB BROWNE
Ms Crawford, who holds down two jobs to support her daughter, said: "I am terrified to stay here and believe our lives are in danger.
"We have been plagued by troubles ever since we moved in here last February.
"I have to endure vandalism, abuse and now a flat has been burned out in front of my balcony.
"This is not a safe place to bring a baby up and whenever I finish work, I wonder what I will come home to."
She says her daughter Alyssa's health has been on the decline practically from the day she left the hospital and entered the troubled block of flats.
Basildon Council was unavailable for comment.
Published Friday, January 3, 2003
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