A terrified mum and her two young children have been left homeless after a gunman blasted their house on Christmas Eve. Charell Anerville, 32, was wrapping presents at her house in Ordsall, Salford, when the attack happened.
The family is too scared to remain in the city even though it is thought the shooter may have targeted the wrong house. Charell says they have been reduced to sofa surfing while trying to find alternative accommodation.
"I am still coming to terms with what happened," she said.
"I have been to my doctors for anti-depressants - which is most unlike me, but I need them. There is no way I want to continue living in Salford. My children are petrified at the prospect of going back."
Charell's son, three, and daughter, eight, were downstairs playing when the gunman struck.
The mum added: "It was 6.30pm and I heard this huge bang. I looked out and could see the kitchen blinds rolling out of the window. I ran downstairs to check my children were okay and saw that a brick had been thrown through my kitchen window while my children were playing in the next room."
She left the property that day. Charell later discovered two bullets had been fired into the property. She added: "The bullets went through the kitchen door, travelled along the hallway and exited via the front door of the house.
"A bullet casing was found in the garden. I have no idea why this has happened to us. I have never been arrested, I have no criminal record. I lead a simple life - working at a children's nursery and setting up my own business - benefits are not for me.
"I keep myself to myself, my kids are bright children. I can think of no reason why anyone would want to cause us harm. Yet we could easily have been killed. I don't feel safe in Salford at all.
"Since this has happened I have been unable to stay at my property as my children are refusing to return out of fear. It’s now been over a month since the incident and I am still waiting to get safely rehoused. I want to move to a different borough.
"One week after the incident, my children returned to school. I had to explain to their teachers what had taken place and that we were unable to stay at my property. The school offered to help us by providing a hotel and food for the night."
Charell claims the only alternative housing she has been offered by the local authorities was on the night of the incident, where they suggested a hotel 10 miles away.
"I then contact a council from a different borough and they provided me, a week later, with a hostel type hotel which was unsanitary and felt unsafe for a single mother of two, we couldn't stay there", she said.
"My daughter broke down crying and being sick saying she doesn’t feel safe when we keep moving around.
"Four weeks had gone by and I needed to re-enter the property to obtain some of our belongings. I was informed that I would be escorted by police officers for my safety and emotional support. They just passed me the house keys out the window and said they would wait outside in their van for two minutes while I gathered some things.
"I felt so scared entering the property again, once I went inside my floors were dirty my kitchen door was taken off the hinges and then a chunk out of the door was missing and I saw dust all over the floor."
Charell has sought help from GMP; Salix Homes, the housing association responsible for her property; housing officials in another borough; and Salford council in a bid to get safely re-homed.
She added: "I just want to be in a place where my children can start afresh and feel safe again in our own home. I am getting nowhere - currently couch surfing with my two children. This should not be happening to innocent people and there should be so much more support offered for victims of these types of crimes.
Warren Carlon, director of communities at Salix Homes, said: "The safety of our residents and the people living and working in our neighbourhoods is a priority for Salix Homes, and we are committed to working with our partners to help tackle criminal behaviour in our communities.
"We can confirm that we have been supporting Greater Manchester Police with their enquiries following an incident reported at McCready Drive, Ordsall, on December 24, and we would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact police on 0161 856 5235 or 101.
"We have been supporting the victim following the incident, who has requested to move out of Salford to a different borough. As a result, she is now being supported by the local authority and the associated housing services in that borough to find alternative accommodation."
A council spokesperson for another borough which is trying to assist the family said: “This is a very disturbing incident and we are working with Salix Homes and GMP. There is also a multi-agency approach within the council to make sure the victim and her children are safe, feel safe and receive the right support.”
GMP has been asked for a response.
In a statement issued on January 9, the force said: "On Tuesday 27 December, officers were made aware of a report of a disturbance that could have taken place between Friday 23 December and Tuesday 27 December 2022. After an initial investigation it has uncovered what is believed to be bullet holes in a rear ground floor window of a property on McCready Drive.
"No injuries were reported at the time and after initial enquiries no arrests have been made. It is also believed, at this stage, to not be connected to another incident on Ryecroft Avenue this month. Detectives are now in a position to appeal for witnesses and gain any further information that may help with their investigation, including doorbell footage."
Anyone who can help is asked to contact 0161 856 5235 or 101 quoting incident number 1985 of 27/12/22. Alternatively, details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
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