text: An elderly couple has spent four years living in the shadows after being forced to board up their windows because of constant anti-social behaviour. Charles Kingham, 86, and partner Pauline Moore, 68, have been together for 40 years and bought their home in the quiet Lincolnshire seaside resort of Mablethorpe for £35,000 in 1987. They spent two years converting it into their dream home, but it became a 'living hell' after it was converted into an integrated offender management centre, which deals with persistent criminals. Scroll down for video . Board stiff: The couple have been forced to board up every window in their home for protection . The pair have both suffered health problems as a result of the stress the ordeal has put them under. Mr Kingham, who served in the Merchant Navy and ran his own timber company before retiring, said: 'The biggest fear for me is going to bed and wondering if we are going to wake up if something is thrown through the letter box. 'We sit here sometimes and think how we have had such a wonderful life. 'But this is misery, absolute misery and nobody wants to do anything. That is the modern world.' Ms Moore claimed the problems started when people started selling drugs nearby and would walk up their garden path 'high'. Incidents intensified when the couple reported anti-social behaviour in the area. They were targeted on an almost weekly basis, with vandals smashing windows with stones and pelting their home with eggs and golf balls. The thugs even splashed cooking fat across the walls and path, urinated on their flowers and keyed their car. At least they have each other: The couple have been together for 40 years despite 'misery' caused by thugs . Every single window of their home has been smashed and the couple eventually got so sick of having to spend time and money replacing them that they took drastic measures. The pair spent £700 on wood and boarded up the house for protection. They have been living in the shadows ever since. And although the house should be worth £100,000, the couple believe they would have to sell for a knock-down price of £60,000 to escape the darkness. Retired office worker Ms Moore sobbed: 'This house was a dream home but our life has been made a living hell. 'We can't sell and are just stuck here so we've barricaded ourselves in. It's the only thing we could think of doing to stop the abuse. 'We have both got so low. I have developed a heart condition through anxiety. 'When they were banging on the windows, Charles went down with a chest infection because of the stress. I thought he was going to die. Dark days: Mr Kingham has to perform normal daily tasks in constant gloom since boarding up his home . 'The trouble started four years ago when the old lady who lived next door died and the house was turned into an integrated offender management centre. 'It was basically for offenders coming out of prison. We didn't have a problem with that at first but suddenly people in the area started selling drugs and coming up our garden path high and even urinating on it. 'We reported it to the police and ever since then we have been plagued with problems. 'The police have been down and seen the damage caused. We've had a pan of chip fat put on the wall of the house and we had our little red Ford Fiesta completely keyed down both sides. Keen reader Mr Kingham (left) has been forced to read in a dark room since they boarded up the windows (right) 'In November there was a big party nearby and at 3am people were banging on our windows and shouting. 'We've had eggs and golf balls thrown at our bungalow and three of our windows are still chipped. 'We didn't report every incident to the police because we thought we'd just sell up and we hoped it would all stop but it has just got worse. 'We decided enough was enough and got the windows boarded up because it's the only thing we could think of to do to protect ourselves. 'We have boarded up the two windows in the lounge, the two in the bedroom and the kitchen. The only ones that aren't boarded are the dining room and bathroom. 'It is quite dark inside and not nice sitting in total darkness when the weather is lovely but it was the only alternative and we do feel safer. Better days: The couple enjoying life on a holiday to the USA in the 1990s before the problems started . 'We could sell our bungalow which is not what we want to do. 'By law you have to declare anti-social behaviour so even though it is worth £100,000 we would probably only be able to sell it for £60,000.' Mr Kingham added: 'We are compiling a full report of incidents against our home but I fear it won't make much difference. Boarding the windows seemed the most common sense thing to do.' Lincolnshire Police and East Lindsey District Council confirmed they were aware of the attacks on the couple's home. Jon Challen, community safety team leader at East Lindsey District Council, said: 'Both the council and police take all reports of antisocial behaviour very seriously. 'Both agencies are working closely together on this matter but at this time there is no evidence that any offence has been committed.' A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police added: 'The local neighbourhood policing team are aware of the couple and the allegations of anti-social behaviour. 'Lincolnshire Police take all reports of ASB seriously and, together with partners at other agencies, have robust systems in place to assist those affected and identify the most vulnerable. 'To date in this case, no offences have been identified but police and ASB officers from East Lindsey District Council continue to offer support to Ms Moore and will investigate each reported allegation.'
target: Charles Kingham, 86, and Pauline Moore, 68, had their home pelted with eggs, stones and even cooking fat on a weekly basis .
  Thugs banged on their door and urinated on garden flowers .
  Couple were forced to board up all the windows for protection .
  Ms Moore says yobs turned dream seaside home into living hell .