A hospital porter is at his wit’s end following a campaign of harassment by a group of teenagers.

Richard Porter, 58, has worked at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping for 18 years.

In the last year and a half he has noticed a serious upturn in anti-social behaviour.

Most weekends he is required to challenge two separate groups of teenagers who hang out at The Plain hospital.

One group he describes as “trouble”, between 14 and 16 years-old, regularly smelling of cannabis and often riding pushbikes.

The other group are slightly older and travel on foot.

The Harlow resident said: “We have to challenge them but I am on the lowest wage bracket.

“I have been sprayed with fire extinguishers.

“They have tried to attack me. They swerve in front of my electric vehicle on their bikes when I drive past. They have tried to attack me and nothing has been done.”

Although his job description states that he is required to act as first response for security issues, he has received no training and feels unsafe in his job.

On May 12 Mr Porter said a group of teens rushed into the hospital, stole a wheelchair and then rode it around grounds.

One of their group kicked the chair, hurting his leg and making it easier for police to scoop him up and take him home to his parents.

Mr Porter added: “I do not feel safe and we don’t have the right training.

“I have reported it to the police and to the Trust but I have not had any help.

“This is the last straw for me. I am at my wits end at the moment.”

He added: “I will punch one of them and get arrested if this carries on.”

Mr Porter says that he has offered to identify the youths to management through the hospital’s CCTV system, but his offer was declined.

The Princess Alexandra NHS Hospital Trust did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.