CAR owners spoke today of their shock and anger at having their vehicles damaged by a gun-toting yob who wreaked havoc in three communities.Motorists were left to clear up the damage in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Orford after the shooting spree in which 17 cars had their windscreens and door windows shattered by pellets from an air gun or BB gun.

CAR owners spoke today of their shock and anger at having their vehicles damaged by a gun-toting yob who wreaked havoc in three communities.

Motorists were left to clear up the damage in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Orford after the shooting spree in which 17 cars had their windscreens and door windows shattered by pellets from an air gun or BB gun.

A man was also shot in the face with an air rifle during the incident on Sunday night.

Sidney Rolph, 83, of Orford Road, Felixstowe, said a neighbour had woken him up to tell him about the damage. The driver and passenger windows of his Fiat were smashed.

“I went to bed at about 10.30pm and never heard a thing until my neighbour called me and told me someone had been shooting at my car - I couldn't believe it,” he said.

“There were three done in this road and for no reason at all.

“Now we have got the job of clearing up and paying for this damage because we probably won't be able to claim on our insurance.

“People who do this sort of thing want locking up - I blame the way they were brought up.”

Another resident whose BMW was attacked said: “It's just ridiculous. Why on earth would someone do something like this? It just makes me mad. People are always damaging cars in these roads.”

Ten cars in Felixstowe were damaged - including ones parked in Orford Road, Cavendish Road, Beach Road West and Tacon Road.

Witnesses said the damage was caused by the driver of a silver hatchback car with red racing stripes.

Less than an hour later, at about 11pm, he shot at five vehicles in Theberton Road, in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich, leaving shattered glass across the street. Forty minutes later, the driver pulled up to a 21-year-old man, who was outside the Co-op store in Landseer Road, in the Greenwich area of Ipswich, and shot him in the face before speeding off.

The impact of the pellet caused a lump on the victim's cheek but he did not need medical treatment.

Earlier in the evening cars had been shot at in Key Street, Orford, and the window of a house in Church Street was smashed.

The driver is described as white, about 20 years old, with short cropped light brown hair, wearing a T-shirt.

Det Sgt Eammon Bridger said: “The consequences of these incidents could have been far greater than they were. I appeal for the offenders to stop this dangerous behaviour immediately and for any witnesses to contact Suffolk police.”

Anyone who saw the car or any of the incidents should call police on Felixstowe CID 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

Were you the young man who was hit? Call The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788 or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.