Yob the builder
Reporter: by BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 31 March 2009
A MAN went on a wrecking spree demolishing derelict homes after breaking into a building site and taking the controls of a digger.
Shocked residents were woken to the sound of falling bricks and rubble as the intruder got into the site, bounded by Park Street and Byron Street, Royton, at about 7.30am, and began to demolish two semi-detached houses.
One Park Street resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The rubble was coming over the side of the fence and covering the cars.
“By the time I came out to look, there were two police cars, a van and workmen on the site.”
Saturday’s incident forced Royton Leisure Centre to close over safety fears.
Paul Trotter, centre manager, said: “The buildings were left partly demolished and could have collapsed on to our offices.
“The buildings were due to be demolished anyway but not at that time of the morning.
“Half of one house and two thirds of the other were knocked down.”
A spokeswoman for developers Community 1st Oldham said police were investigating the incident.
She said: “There was a break-in but the site is now totally secure.”
The area is being cleared to make way for a new £10 million Royton Health and Well-being Centre, part of NHS Oldham’s programme to build 10 new health centres.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of taking conveyance without authority and has been bailed until June 26 pending further inquiries.
