A local for 36 years, Robert Scott, has been victim to vandalism, taunts and continuous arson attacks.

Mr Scott purchased a block of land at 40 Gwydir Highway in 2008, investing his life savings with the hopes of making enough money to retire.

But not long after purchasing the land, a heritage listed house on the property fell victim to an arson attack, and that’s where the problems started.

Mr Scott said he now has nothing left for the vandals to ruin, steal or burn.

“I initially bought the land to start a furniture business but every time I had wood delivered to the property the vandals would come and burn it and it has been going on ever since,” he said.

Recently, a truck he paid $12,000 for was burnt and it wasn’t the first time something near or of the same value had been ruined.

“Hardwood logs, my sawmill, cut timber, a forklift, an old shed, the heritage house and shipping containers have all been burnt and now they have been trying to burn the insulation of a new shed I built to do spray painting,” Mr Scott said.

Not only has his property been continually damaged, but he has also had rocks thrown at him by perpetrators whilst working and walking around the 10-acre property.

“I built a $25,000 fence out the front, along the highway, hoping it would slow them down and I’ve been thinking about putting it all the way around my property but I know they will just cut through it, costing me more money,” he said.

Mr Scott built the shed to fit large vehicles in for a spray paint service, but because of the known history for arson attacks, he said he has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“They’ve stolen my wallet, tipped out paint, made a mess and now I’m experiencing it at my house in Anne Street. I’ve had them come to my house and make a mess in my driveway, spray paint the side of my fence and an old bus around the side,” he said.

Mr Scott has involved the police on a number of occasions to try and catch the perpetrators.

“I see them, so I know what they look like and they range from children to adults. I believe the hands of the police are tied because of the law system but we are breeding terrorists. The more they get away with it, the gamer and gamer they become,” he said.

Mr Scott said he contacted other media outlets, in the hopes to spread awareness to ministers and people of power to show them that Moree needs help.

“The mayor stopped media from coming to Moree to do the story because she never wants to publicise the bad things about Moree and I think that is fraud. Katrina is protecting those committing crimes,” he said.

Moree Plains Shire mayor, Katrina Humphries, said the claims was false and offensive.

“I have never been approached for a story about Robert Scott. I am flattered to think that it is alleged that I have the clout to stop any media outlet from doing any stories about Moree, adverse or otherwise,” councillor Humphries said.

“I have only had a conversation with Robert Scott about vandalism many years ago when his premises were burnt,” she said.

Councillor Humphries said efforts being made by the council were many including crime prevention committees being set-up in Moree, Boggabilla and Mungindi. “We are working very hard on implementing many different programmes in relation to youth and have been a council committed to trying to improve the law and orders aspects of our whole shire,” she said.

Mr Scott’s plea was for the criminals to leave him alone.