A COUPLE were left more than £1,000 out of pocket after “idiotic” vandals poured paint stripper on their cars.

Naomi Ullyet and her husband Scott emerged from their home in St Denis Close, Dovercourt, to find their Mercedes and Fiat 500 cars doused in the corrosive liquid.

They say police have closed the case due to a lack of evidence.

Naomi said: “It looked like a very unwell seagull had visited our driveway.

“I went out the front of the house and saw both cars had been covered in what looked like a cream substance.

“I later found out it was paint stripper.

“My husband had a quote from the garage and to repair his car it will cost £4,500

“It will cost £1,200 for mine. We do have insurance, but you have to factor in the excess we must pay.

“I will have to pay £600 and he will pay £750.

“That is money we have to pay because of someone else’s idiocy.”

The couple, who have lived in the road for ten years, first feared the vandalism may have been targeted.

But they cannot think of anyone who has a reason to hold a grudge.

Naomi said: “We get on with the neighbours very well, we help each other out where we can.

“If someone needs something doing like painting my husband might pop round.

“We don’t really go out much locally in Harwich and he is a body shop manager in Sudbury - we can’t think who might have done this.

“Now my eight-year-old is scared about going out, he’s worried about the ‘bad man’ coming back.”

After the overnight attack the couple reported the incident to Essex Police.

But Naomi claims the force soon closed the case.

“I agree the police are stretched in terms of resources, but the fact is I pay my taxes and I pay my way. It may be small, petty crimes like this lead to bigger things.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We received an online report at around 6am on Sunday, August 25, about cars being damaged overnight.

“A woman reported that vehicles had an unknown substance on it and after washing it off, she realised the paint had been stripped from them.

“We made enquiries with the victim and established there were no CCTV, witness and forensic opportunities.

“We received no information about possible suspects or their descriptions.

“The case was filed and we informed the victim that it would be revisited if further lines of enquiry were established.”

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting reference number 42/136692/19.