Family's holiday from hell (From Watford Observer)

Family's holiday from hell after break in at villa

4:50pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

A family from Bushey have experienced a "holiday from hell" after their villa was broken in to as they slept.

Dad of five, Robert Seal, said he believed the villa was not secure enough and the bars over the window that the burglar gained access to were "rusty and broken."

The villa was broken in to on the second night of their holiday in May, with the burglar gaining access through the bathroom window of the villa, provided by Villa Plus.

Mr Seal, who lives on Great Grove, said he is outraged he will not receive any compensation for the loss of enjoyment on his week long holiday to the Algarve in Portugal, with his wife and children.

The thief managed to get away with a £1,000 worth of baby clothes and electrical items.

Mr Seal, 31, also complained the security cameras that were thought to be in operation were actually not working.

The data analyst, who works for a recruitment company said he and his wife, Rebecca, slept in fear for the rest of the holiday. He said: "It was horrible going back to the villa in the evening.

"All in all this experience ruined our holiday and our kids were terrified from that day forward.

"They wouldn’t sleep in the bedrooms and each night we would have to re-assure them that no one else would come in during the night.

"We asked to move villas because they were unable to sleep.

"We have been put off villa holidays for the rest of our lives."

The family were moved to another villa on their fourth day.

As soon as they arrived home Robert contacted the Villa Plus office in St Albans, he initially booked his holiday with, to make a formal complaint.

In a letter to Robert from the directors of Villa Plus, Nick Cooper and Raj Mavani, said: "Of course, you have our sympathies and we are sorry that you remain disappointed; however we simply cannot accept liability for the actions of a criminal matter beyond our direct control." Robert said he was disappointed that Villa Plus had not been more helpful when filing his complaint. He had wished to gain compensation for the loss of enjoyment of his family’s holiday, but the case has now been closed by Villa Plus.

Mr Seal said: "It is not about the items we lost on our holiday, but it’s the ruined holiday we had.

"The company have a duty of care to properly and adequately protect us against risk.

"After the burglary we could no longer enjoy our holiday properly.

"I would go to court tomorrow if I had the money."

When the Watford Observer contacted Villa Plus for comment, they were unavailable.