A WEST Somerset town mayor appeared this week to have been the target of a spiteful vendetta when her car was badly vandalised while parked near her home.

The attack on Thursday (January 2) came as Watchet Mayor Cllr Loretta Whetlor prepared for the first anniversary of the death of her husband Michael.

Mr Whetlor, a former town councillor who had been suffering from cancer, died in January, 2024.

Paint-stripper type liquid can be seen on the windows and bodywork of the vandalised car in Watchet.
Paint-stripper type liquid can be seen on the windows and bodywork of the vandalised car in Watchet. ( )

All four tyres on Cllr Whetlor’s silver Suzuki Swift car were punctured with a sharp object and a green colour gel-type substance was thrown over the vehicle.

The vandalism attack happened under the cover of darkness shortly before 11.30pm in Liddymore Road.

The car was also vandalised a year ago in a similar incident on Christmas Day as Cllr Whetlor cared for her terminally ill husband, and one neighbour said on social media there had been three other such attacks in the street in the past two years.

Cllr Whetlor told the Free Press: “It is making my life a misery.

“It is very, very upsetting, particularly as it is coming up to the anniversary of my husband dying.

One of the punctured tyres on the vandalised Suzuki car in Watchet.
One of the punctured tyres on the vandalised Suzuki car in Watchet. ( )

“It seems personally vindictive at Christmas time against me.

“I do not know anybody I have upset personally, so I wonder if it is something to do with the council.”

An appeal has been made through local social media pages for anybody who might be able to identify the person who carried out the vandalism.

Doorbell cam footage has been shared showing the suspect was a man wearing a grey hoodie tracksuit and trainers with reflective markings.

He was captured on the doorbell cams of several neighbours over a period of about 20 minutes walking past the car two or three times before returning to it.

Cllr Whetlor’s granddaughter Jasmine Slater said on social media: “Any help is greatly appreciated in finding who did this.”

Damage to the rear of the vandalised Watchet car.
Damage to the rear of the vandalised Watchet car. ( )

The damage to the car was discovered the following morning when Cllr Whetlor went to use it and found three flat tyres and paintwork corroded by the gel substance.

The fourth tyre was only found to have been punctured after Cllr Whetlor had the car taken into her local garage.

Cllr Whetlor said: “It is all extra expense for me at this time of year.

“I just want to know why it is happening to me, an elderly widow.”

Avon and Somerset Police has opened an investigation into the incident and appealed for anybody who might have information which could help officers.

A spokesperson for the constabulary said: “At around 11.20 pm on Thursday, January 2, an unknown man damaged the tyres and threw a green paint-like substance over a car in Liddymore Road, in Watchet.

“Officers have been in contact with the victim, conducted house-to-house inquiries, and reviewed CCTV and doorbell footage.

“We are appealing for anybody who witnessed the incident or have footage of somebody acting suspicious that they have not yet shared with the police.

“If you have any information, please contact 101 and quote reference 5225001879.”