A grandfather arrested and then cleared over 'assaulting' a member of a gang says he is still plagued with problems by youths.

Robert Marchant, of Bowerman Close, Kidlington, has now had the investigation against him dropped, but is angry about what he describes as a reluctance by the police to tackle antisocial behaviour in the village. Mr Marchant, 64, and his wife, Audrey, who is being treated for cancer, said that over the past year they had eggs thrown at their house and lumps of concrete and road cones chucked over the fence into their garden.

The couple claim the same gang of youths repeatedly thump and kick their doors and windows, forcing them to stay inside until the yobs have gone.

In April, Mr Marchant said the behaviour became too much to handle when he found one of the teenagers in his back garden.

He admits he pulled him into his house and the boy stayed there until the police arrived and took him away. He later found out that the boy's parents had made a formal complaint.

Mr Marchant was arrested and kept on police bail until the case was dropped because of lack of evidence.

Mr and Mrs Marchant are relieved that potential charges were dropped, but said their problems were not over.

He said: "I am glad the charges have been dropped, but to me it is madness that it ever got that far to begin with."

The couple did receive a handwritten letter from one of the youngsters, apologising for pelting the couple's home with stones. The boy said that he had been spoken to by the police and promised that it would not happen again.

But Mr Marchant said that this was the only apology he and his wife had received.

He added: "We have lived here since 1982, and I have a list as long as my arm of the incidents that have blighted our lives.

"Most of the youngsters around here are good kids, but there is a problem with a gang of about six or seven of them and it gets worse at the weekends and during school holidays.

"We are dreading Halloween, because we know that it will be unbearable.

"I don't think the kids around here take the Pcsos seriously because they know they can't arrest them.

"My wife is unwell at the moment and doesn't need this stress, I have the right to protect her and my property."

Larry Jordan, Kidlington Neighbourhood sergeant, said: "Mr Marchant was arrested following a complaint after there was an altercation with a youth at his property.

"We investigated whether or not common assault had taken place but he was released without charge.

"We have received the complaints of antisocial behaviour in Bowerman Close.

"In response to that Pcsos have put in place specific patrols over the last few weeks."