Can you help save Christmas for a Huntingdon family whose house was smashed up by an intruder?

THE Hunts Post is appealing to readers to help save Christmas for a Huntingdon family whose house was ransacked.

Shannan Pett left her house for an hour on the morning of Monday, December 6, and returned to find water pouring through her kitchen ceiling, and her house in ruin.

Her 50-inch plasma television had been shattered, and hammer blows were found on furniture throughout the house. Her bed had been broken, her mattress ripped, and her bathroom suite smashed. In the living room, the family’s Christmas tree was thrown across the room and presents for the children destroyed.

While the fixtures will be repaired by the landlord, the Luminus Group, The Hunts Post is appealing for donations from readers to make her home habitable again in time for Ms Pett and her children, Riordan, 13, Laith, 7, and Freya, 5, to enjoy Christmas.

“I got home and just saw water coming through the ceiling of the kitchen,” said Ms Pett, 32. “Then I stepped in, and realised I was stepping on broken glass.

“Everything had been smashed – the cooker, the microwave, the fridge, washing machine, breakfast bar, the cupboards. The rest of the house was the same. It was just awful.”

A hammer was found in the kitchen, and police are hoping to link the DNA from the weapon to the intruder.

Luminus has installed a replacement bathroom at the property and, though Ms Pett is hopeful of returning before Christmas, she is still lacking the white goods and furniture that were damaged.

Top of Ms Pett’s priorities is a replacement cooker and fridge freezer, both of which were destroyed in the attack. She has already contacted charitable organisations to find out about help available, but said that all donations were welcome – including tradesmen who were able to contribute their time.

“I just couldn’t believe it when I walked through the door and saw the water gushing through the ceiling of the kitchen.

“The bowl of the toilet had been smashed, and the cistern kept refilling it, so the bathroom had flooded and was leaking through to the kitchen.

“Everything else had a hole in it. It seems like it was done systematically to stop me using anything.”

Ms Pett has attempted to shield her two youngest children from the shock attack, by telling them the house has flooded. The three are staying with Ms Pett’s sister in Woodwalton, but she is keen to get her home back to normal as soon as possible.

“When I come into the house, I still get that same shock. When I’m away, I can kind of put it out of my mind, but I was screaming when it first happened. I still can’t believe that someone could have done this.”

Police officers are investigating the incident, and would like to speak to any witnesses. A spokesman said: “This incident has caused a lot of distress and inconvenience to the victim.

“Investigations into this incident are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 0345 456 4564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.”