by Simon Tulett

A charity supporting survivors of rape has suffered its third vandal attack in six months, prompting fresh fears it is being targeted by an angry sex abuser.

The latest incident at Family Matters saw a symbolic statue ripped from the wall of its headquarters in Wrotham Road, Gravesend, and stolen in the week before Christmas.

The anonymously donated artwork, which depicts a small figure crying and was entitled It's a Crying Shame, had already had its head ripped off by vandals in August. The first attack on the victim support charity, last July, saw stones catapulted at the statue and windows.

Malcolm Gilbert, the charity's operations director, is considering increased security measures, including CCTV cameras.

He is convinced the attacks are linked. He said: "We see more than 650 people a year who have either been raped or sexually abused. The way we have been persistently targeted still makes me think it could be an attack by an abuser getting even."

Mr Gilbert said the statue's creator had agreed to replace it.

For the full story see this week's Gravesend Messenger.