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Windows of family home of boy, 13, who drowned in River Tyne smashed hours after his funeral

Robert Hattersley got into difficulty while swimming in the River Tyne. (Reach)
Robert Hattersley got into difficulty while swimming in the River Tyne. (Reach)

The parents of a teenage boy who drowned in the River Tyne woke to find the windows of their home smashed – just hours after their son’s funeral.

Robert Hattersley, 13, got into difficulty while swimming in the river near Ovingham in Northumberland with friends at around 4.15pm on 17 July.

He was pulled in by strong currents and the emergency services spent around six hours searching for him before he was later confirmed dead.

On Monday, his heartbroken family said a final goodbye to Robert during his funeral at Church of The Holy Spirit in the village.

During the early hours of the following morning, his parents Stella and Carl heard a loud noise and woke to find that their living room window, a bedroom window and a window in their door were all damaged and a brick was found inside their home in Crawcrook, Gateshead.

Windows were smashed at the family home in Crawcrook, Gateshead. (Reach)
Windows were smashed at the family home in Crawcrook, Gateshead. (Reach)

Karly Maltaz, the girlfriend of Robert’s sister Chantelle, was in the bedroom when the window was smashed and suffered an injury to her leg from the shattered glass.

Robert’s sister Emma, 24, said she had no idea why anyone would target the family home and added that a car was also damaged during the incident.

Police and council workers visited the property in the early hours of the morning and boarded up the windows until they could be replaced.

Emma said: "My dad thought it was fireworks until the girls told him that the window had been put through. They are scared in case it happens again.

A brick was found inside the home following the incident. (Reach)
A brick was found inside the home following the incident. (Reach)

"My dad went to get some CCTV so they would feel a little bit safer. We are all hoping they find the people that have done it and send them to jail.”

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said they received a report of a brick being thrown through a window in Crawcrook shortly after 1am on Tuesday and that enquiries are ongoing.

They said: "It was reported that a female received several lacerations from the impact of the glass shattering and that a car parked near-by had also been damaged.

“The occupants are being supported by officers and CCTV from the area is being reviewed.”