Crossbow bolt hits Selsey home

A crossbow bolt that smashed into a homeowner's conservatory has been handed to police for forensic investigation.
A child found another bolt identical to the one Stephen Hart found lodged in his conservatory roof. Photo by Mick Weller. DZJM7lniDSe4FOmiQeS8A child found another bolt identical to the one Stephen Hart found lodged in his conservatory roof. Photo by Mick Weller. DZJM7lniDSe4FOmiQeS8
A child found another bolt identical to the one Stephen Hart found lodged in his conservatory roof. Photo by Mick Weller. DZJM7lniDSe4FOmiQeS8

Stephen Hart, 64, said the five-inch metal bolt pierced his polycarbonate roof, but could have seriously injured someone had it landed on a footpath by his Selsey home.

The 64-year-old said he was just grateful it hadn’t gone through a canopy in his the garden next door, where his neighbour’s son often sits.

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He said: “If people had been walking down the footpath, right opposite the police station, they could’ve been killed.

“If it had gone six foot the other way it could’ve killed the neighbour’s son. It’s just unbelievable.”

He said he heard the steel-tipped arrowhead hit the roof at around 8pm on Saturday night while watching TV, but thought it was just a bird or debris.

It wasn’t until the following morning that he found the projectile lodged in the roof, which could cost up to £200 to replace or repair.

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An appeal on Facebook for information has already found another similar arrow, said to have been picked up by a child in a nearby garden.

Police are investigating the incident as criminal damage. Contact police with information on 101 quoting 821 of 05/03.