A WINCHESTER chocolate shop was targeted by vandals, continuing the spate of High Street window smashing.

One of Chococo’s front windowpanes is cracked from top to bottom, after it was smashed overnight between 6pm on Friday, May 26 and 7am on Saturday, May 27 when no staff were in.

Hampshire Chronicle: Chococo's smashed windowChococo's smashed window (Image: Adele Bouchard)

But this isn’t the first time the chocolate shop and café, opposite Rick Stein, has been victim to anti-social behaviour, with its windows last being smashed just over a year ago.

Store manager Joshua Longworth also recalls being assaulted by a member of the public in front of Chococo’s entrance when it was dark.

READ MORE: Shops in Winchester's High Street suffer series of smashed windows in a surge of late night anti-social behaviour

Mr Longworth said: “The High Street has been hit a few times, Sainsbury’s is definitely worst off.

“It’s £1,500 worth of damage. We’ve also had issues with the roof with people going up and doing drugs up there.

“The CCTV doesn’t capture the whole of the High Street. The council has put up a gate to deter people from going round the back but anti-social behaviour needs to be addressed, there’s not enough to stop people.

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester Chococo manager Joshua LongworthWinchester Chococo manager Joshua Longworth (Image: Adele Bouchard)

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“Window smashing is just an outlook for anger when people are drunk. We’re quite near the pubs down this end, with a high crime rate round Alfie’s and Pitcher and Piano. They have a good security presence but the problems are when people leave.

“We’re trying to get better windows that will be more resistant to force.”

Mr Longworth logged the incident with the police online as it wasn’t deemed “serious”. The shop is covered by insurance and hopes to have its window repaired on Tuesday, June 13, two weeks after it was smashed.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "We received a report that between 6pm on 26 May and 7am on 27 May, damage was caused to the window of Chococo, High Street Winchester.

"Anyone with information or CCTV footage can call 101 with reference 44230210377."