A FATHER claims his family has been terrorised by a gang of youths because he dared to stand up to them.

In the latest attack, a brick was thrown through a window of Tony Nocivelli's house, spraying shards of glass over his two sleeping children.

It follows a series of incidents, which include having paint poured on their cars, live fireworks placed under their cars, beatings and vicious name-calling.

Now Mr Nocivelli, 45, and his wife, Donna, 31, from Malpas, Newport, say they are at breaking point.

He said: "My wife has had a nervous breakdown. I can't sleep for fear of what they will do next and my children are scared too. We just can't take this terror any more."

The dad-of-five broke down in tears as he told the Argus how he had been sitting in the living room of his Darwin Drive home when he heard "an almighty crash" just after midnight on Saturday.

He said: "My wife and I had been watching TV and two of the kids were asleep on the sofa in front of the window.

"All of a sudden there was this almighty crash and glass sprayed everywhere - all over the children.

"My wife was hysterical, the children were too."

The rear driver's-side window and windscreen of the couple's blue Rover Metro were also smashed during the same attack.

Mr Nocivelli claims the attack was part of a "vendetta" waged by the group of local youths against his family ever since he stopped them bullying his son almost two years ago.

He said: "I can't believe these people can get away with ruining people's lives. We don't go out in this area any more, not even to the shops, and the kids don't go out to play.

"We live in fear and are desperate to move house. We have been on the waiting list for a new council house for ages, but nothing has been done. "But why should we have to move? The kids have their school and friends here. It's unfair that they are allowed to do this to us."

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: "We have made contact with the complainant and have fully investigated the incident and will follow up the leads we have.

"We will keep Mr Nocivelli updated as and when we have developments," she said.