A COUPLE were shocked to catch a cyclist carve markings into the side of their car.

Kirsty Gadsby and her partner Andi Mitchell, from Witham, went through their CCTV footage after they found x’s scratched into their gold Citroen Picasso.

Miss Gadsby, 24, of Honeysuckle Way, said her partner had gone to the shops on Sunday morning and had noticed the scratches.

She said: “The scratches are on the driver door, the passenger door and the back panel, they are massive and really deep.

“I checked the CCTV and found the man doing it.

“It’s weird, we have been racking our brains thinking about why someone would do it.”

The couple got the car in June and they use it to drive their son Mason Woodhall, five, to school in Hatfield Peverel. Miss Gadsby said her son has learning difficulties and getting to school by other means would upset him. The car was damaged at about 7.45pm on Saturday.

Miss Gadsby said: “It’s just the audacity, he didn’t wait until the street lights had gone off, he clearly wasn’t bothered by anyone seeing him. It’s really upsetting.” 

Officers are investigating following reports.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Police would like to speak to a man who was seen in the area in connection with the incident.

"He is described as white, around 6ft tall and was on a road cycling bike which is thought to have been silver, with slim wheels.


"He is believed to have short dark hair and was wearing high vis clothing and a cycling helmet with a torch on."


Anyone with information is asked to call Pc Martin Berry at Braintree Local Policing Team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.