“THEY terrorised my husband to his death.”

That is the claim of Karen Sansom after her husband Colin died from a heart attack she alleges was the result of a sustained period of torment and abuse from a gang of yobs.

And she claims they started singing and dancing as he lay dying from a heart attack.

Mrs Sansom, 51, has now launched a “Justice for Colin” campaign in honour of the husband she described as “her universe” after slamming Dorset Police for their lack of action regarding the incidents, which took place over the past two years and included threats of physical violence, verbal abuse and intimidation.

Mr Sansom died aged 68 on November 5 this year at his home on Magnolia Close in Littlemoor. He had a history of medical problems and had been suffering from the lung condition emphysema.

Mrs Sansom, said the couple were targeted by the gang, which included up to eight children, some aged as young as 10, because he was vulnerable.

She said: “My Colin was vulnerable before the abuse started. He suffered from emphysema but he was still going out of the house, exercising and enjoying life.

“When the abuse started, it used to worry him and anger him so much, they were making our lives a complete misery.”

She said the gang would stand outside their house and hurl bricks at the windows, shouting insults and making vicious threats to burn down the house and the couple’s car.

On November 4, the night before Colin’s death, Mrs Sansom said two of the boys in the gang were throwing items at the house and even threw fireworks into their back garden, causing Mr Sansom considerable distress.

Mrs Sansom said some of the gang started singing and dancing outside of her home as her husband lay dying on the floor the morning after.

She said: “I called the paramedics and as they were trying to revive him, two boys came outside and started singing and dancing and laughing in my face.

“When his body was taken out, they put their hands to their throats and started making choking gestures. It was horrible.”

Mrs Sansom said she and her husband had reported all of the incidents to Dorset Police, but they were “regularly” ignored or brushed aside and criticised Dorset Police for not acting.

She added: “He begged the police for help. He told them that it would kill him if the abuse went on and that he couldn’t take it anymore.”

She has now made a complaint to Dorset Police about the way the force handled the situation and is pleading with them to investigate the incidents further.

She is also currently in the process of making a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

“I am disgusted and so angry that the police didn’t do anything.

“They did nothing to stop the incidents happening, Colin was on the phone crying to them and they still did nothing,” she added.

Mrs Sansom said she decided to speak out in memory of her husband and has vowed to “fight for justice for Colin” and wants Dorset Police to launch a criminal investigation.

She added: “I don’t have my Colin.

“My Colin was the world to me, he was my whole existence.

“We did everything for each other, we loved each other so much, he was my universe and now he’s not here.

“It’s not about me, I don’t want compensation or anything like that. I just want justice in Colin’s name and for it to never happen to anyone else ever again.”

Police investigating

DORSET Police confirmed they had received reports of anti-social behaviour on Magnolia Close and were looking into the matter.

A spokesman for the force said officers were on their way to a pre-arranged appointment with Mr Sansom on November 5, but arrived at the house just minutes after his death.

The spokesman said: “Following the death of the man, officers have been in contact with his wife and are offering appropriate support with partner agencies.

“Over a period of years officers have been dealing with a number of neighbourhood disputes relating to a number of parties within this area.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious.