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Damage caused in violent visit to newspaper office

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused when a man wreaked havoc in the car park of a Newsquest newspaper office.

Fourteen cars were damaged after the man, driving a Volvo estate, repeatedly rammed the vehicles – parked at the North Cheam office in South London.

Most were company cars and two were left as virtual write-offs. A wall was also destroyed in the mid-morning incident.

Four police officers arrived at the scene within minutes and the man was removed without resistance.

It is believed he had earlier been into reception and threatened to wreak havoc.

Jonathan Cook, publisher of the South London Guardian and Surrey Comet, said he had been out of the office on business and returned to a scene of devastation.

“Several of the staff were quite badly shocked, especially the receptionists,” he said.

He praised his team for their calmness during the incident, which he described as “very frightening.”

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