A FATHER-of-two says he is being driven out of his York home by a gang of youths who are terrorising his family.

Builder Stuart Ferguson, 33, was awoken at 3.25am on Friday by the sound of the police knocking on his door.

His car, a J-registered Rover, had been stolen from his home in Burlington Avenue, Tang Hall, and abandoned in nearby Constantine Avenue.

This was the latest in a long string of crimes committed against his family over the last three years, and Mr Ferguson said it was the final straw.

Incidents include:

The gate to the house was vandalised last week.

Alcohol was stolen from the house

Both wing mirrors were ripped off his car last month and thrown in his garden

Stones were thrown at his windows

His family have been verbally abused in the street

Two years ago, the family's presents were stolen only two weeks before Christmas.

He has now asked the council to relocate him, his wife, Marie, his 15-year-old stepdaughter, Vicky, and his three-year-old son, Josh, to escape the yobs.

He said: "We are getting victimised here. I am sick of it. I live an honest life, I should be able to live in my house without being terrorised."

He believes his family is being targeted by the same gang of youths, aged between 13 and 15, who live locally.

"I know who they are, but they are untouchable. The police know what the problems are but they can't seem to do anything," he said.

"One day I will flip and I'll be the one in trouble."

He said the youths who took his car had sneaked into his home on Thursday night and taken the car keys. The police were alerted when a neighbour saw the car speeding down Constantine Avenue.

The car is being held by the police in Leeman Road so forensic tests can be carried out. Mr Ferguson has had to take time off work as he needs his car to travel to construction sites in Leeds.

Along with the car keys, a set of house keys was also stolen, requiring the family to pay to have all the locks changed.

The family have lived in Burlington Avenue since 1998, but in the last three years Mr Ferguson says he has had to call the police at least 20 times.

"I have had enough. Every incident has been unsolved," he said.

York Police said they were investigating the incident and were aware of problems in the area.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, February 16, 2004