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Ghost driving man out of home
TORMENTED by a poltergeist that's forcing him out of his home – Darren Hammond is a man on the brink.
The 42-year-old today recounts a series of bizarre incidents which have convinced him that his Hebburn town centre home is haunted.
"On one occasion I was sat on the sofa watching TV, I turned off the set and saw the reflection of an old woman sat next to me," he said. "I was terrified."
His friend has also seen the ghostly figure at the top of his stairs, thought to be a previous occupant of the house.
The ex-industrial painter says he's desperate to ward off the apparition, even contacting a local vicar to beg for him to exorcise the spirit which roams his council maisonette.
South Tyneside Homes (STH), meanwhile, is stumped. Bosses say these are such unusual circumstances they don't have a policy on it, but have vowed to offer Mr Hammond their support.
In the meantime, he's scattered salt around his front door, an attempt to keep the spirit out of the home he's lived in for two years.
The father-of-one said: "Anyone would be at their wits' end if they had to live like this.
"My Christmas tree was tossed over last year, sets of keys have been rammed into the back of cupboard doors I've not opened for months, and the list of things which have gone missing then reappeared in the same place is frightening. It's started just after I moved in.
"It's embarrassing for a man of my age to be talking like this, suggesting there's a ghost in my house, but I honestly believe it.
"The woman who lived here before me didn't die in the house, perhaps she can't accept that she's gone, and I live here now."
His dog Shadraic, a calm dog before moving to the house two years ago, now fixes its gaze on random parts of the house and barks furiously.
"He can see something that I can't, and it's sending him wild," Mr Hammond added.
His plight culminated in the early hours of Monday morning this week, when he was woken up by a steady banging noise against the wall next to his bed.
Knowing no one lived on the other side, Mr Hammond ran downstairs, assuming it must be coming from downstairs. The eerie thumping noise continued, before stopping suddenly.
"It was like something from another world, it was a sharp banging noise. I wouldn't have thought anything of it if someone lived next door, but it's empty. I couldn't sleep that night, I was uptight with fear and panic."
He's now got a friend staying with him, because he says he can't bear to be alone in his house anymore.
A camcorder on a tripod is constantly recording in an upstairs bedroom where so many items have been moved around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the force responsible.
"Perhaps if I catch something on film my claims won't sound so far-fetched."
Paul Thompson, STH head of housing, said: "We are aware of Mr Hammond's circumstances but this is an unusual situation and we do not have a specific policy.
"However as this is causing Mr Hammond distress we will be visiting him to offer support and assistance where we can."
Mr Hammond said: "I'm not saying this to get a better house. This block is being knocked down eventually, and people say that if I stick around I'll get a nice payout to move. But I don't care about the money, I just want to be out of here."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
