TWO rampaging teenagers damaged cars and smashed house windows during a night of mindless vandalism in Christchurch.

Police confirm a number of vehicles and homes were attacked in Somerset Road, Devon Road, Fitzmaurice Road and Eleanor Gardens.

As police searched the area, a 17-year-old youth was found in nearby Corbar Road with an injury to his ear. He claimed he’d been assaulted by three other men and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Dorset Police said: “Officers are continuing to make enquiries into these incidents, which are being treated as linked.”

One shocked resident, whose second child was born at home last week, ran outside his home in Fitzmaurice Road to confront the teens when large stones were thrown through his window around 10pm on Tuesday night.

He found a trail of devastation with car windows and mirrors smashed, even stretching into side roads. A lengthy chase and search ensued involving around half a dozen neighbours, as well as police officers. One man was later discovered injured and police made two arrests.

The shocked dad said: “My wife had a home birth in the same room they threw stones at just one week ago. If my baby or my little girl had been in the way when those stones came in it could have been really serious. They were about the size of golf balls.

“I went down Dover Road, they had basically smashed every car down that road, knocked mirrors off, even smashed windscreens I think.”

Eventually they confronted two youths and a brief altercation broke out.

“He said he was going off to get a knife to shank me, those were his words. Then an off-duty police officer pulled up and called for back-up.

The 17-year-old was later found with injuries in a neighbouring street, which police say is linked to the rampage.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Echo: “They targeted my house, they’ve smashed my windows. I just don’t want them to get away with this.” Two Christchurch men, aged 18, arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and assault, have been released under investigation.