Pictured: Man with claw hammer attacks Lichfield centre for children with special needs
A new centre for children with special educational had its windows smashed in a seemingly motiveless attack.
A man carrying a claw hammer was captured on closed-circuit television moments before the attack at the new Liberty Jamboree youth club which is still being built in Lichfield.
Eight windows were smashed at the new centre in the grounds of Lichfield Sports Club.
A member of staff, who discovered the damage, said: "I arrived at our newly built youth club created with so much love and care for our incredible young people, only to find it had been vandalised.
"The building isn’t even finished yet, and already it’s been targeted.
"This space is meant to be a safe, welcoming place for a vulnerable group of young people in our community. Instead, some thoughtless individuals decided to destroy something that wasn’t even theirs."
Jamie Checkland, chairman of Lichfield Sports Club, spoke of his anger at the attack.
He said, "Ourselves and Liberty Jamboree have been working together for two years to bring this great additional facility to Lichfield.
"The sports club CCTV has revealed that the offender went to the building armed with a claw hammer, with the specific intent to damage a number of windows. There was no attempt to break into the building and nothing was stolen.
"As we approach the finish, it is bewildering to see how an individual can maliciously target such a vulnerable group of young people. Someone knows or suspects who this individual might be. Please help in identifying this person."
Mr Checkland said the incident took place at about 2.24am hrs on July 31.
"The offender, armed with the hammer, broke open the surrounding fence, smashed all the windows on the front and then ran off across the field.
"Though the face is covered, the sweatshirt is distinctive, the trousers quite baggy and the trainers are also unusual. If you have any information that will assist to identify this offender, then please let Staffordshire police know."
Staffordshire Police spokesman Kyle Smith said officers were called to Lichfield Sports Club in Eastern Avenue shortly after 8.30pm on July 31 following reports of criminal damage.
"Eight windows had been smashed by an unknown suspect," he said.
"Anyone with any information that can help with our investigation is asked to get in touch by calling 101 or using live chat on our website, quoting incident 754 of 31 July."
To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
