Yob attack? Ring the AA

A man who called police after yobs rolled his girlfriend's parked car on its side was met with the response – contact the AA, it was claimed today.

Simon White, aged 37, of Hilton Close, Bloxwich, said: "I said to them a neighbour had seen a gang of about 20 youths hanging about when he was walking his dog. He had come back half and hour later to see my girlfriend's car on its side.

"At no point did the police ask me anything to do with solving the crime. There was no mention of witnesses, possible fingerprints or any desire to catch who had done it. All they said was call the AA or Green Flag.

"When I told them there was petrol leaking from the car they said they'd call the fire brigade and then ended the conversation."

He said he rang them back and demanded someone investigated.

The estate agent and girlfriend Colleen Donnelly, 28, have a daughter, Chantelle, 11, and a son, Joshua,9.

He said that last Monday, after a neighbour told them the Fiat Punto was on its side, he was initially told by 999 operators that it was not serious enough and to call local police. He said Bloxwich station staff told him to call the AA, despite not having breakdown cover.

"It was only because I insisted someone came out that the crime is being investigated. To be fair, the two officers that did come were very helpful, but by then the youths had gone."

He said the car was a write-off and Miss Donnelly, a charity worker, had no means of transport while he was at work.

No-one from West Midlands Police was available for comment.