The elderly woman terrorised in a camper van by a group of youths at Warrington at the weekend has spoken of her ordeal, including the fear her attackers would kill her 18-year-old cat.
The woman, who did not want to be named for fear of retribution, said the attack had left her and her husband "shattered".
"How would these people like it if this happened to their mother, father, grandmother or grandfather?"
The woman and her husband, both retired and in their 70s, decided to stop for the night at the Warrington Domain while driving from Oamaru to their Mosgiel home on Friday night.
At 1.15am, the couple were woken by a group of youths attacking their camper van.
The woman said she had no time to fear for her own life as "I was only worried about my cat".
During the incident, the couple's campervan, which they had bought only recently, received extensive damage, including broken windows, and dented panels from thrown objects and people climbing on its roof.
It was their first trip in the van.
The couple, who were returning from a holiday in the North Island attending the birth of their great-grandchild, said it was disappointing the only incident during their trip occurred in their own province.
"I am still quite numb about it."
The woman said she had struggled to sleep since the incident and lived in fear her attackers would track her down.
She praised the efforts of the police and hoped the perpetrators would "go to prison".
Constable Greg Park, of North Dunedin, confirmed yesterday police had talked to the owner of a cellphone left at the scene, and had identified some people involved.
"It is fair to say we have rattled the cages of the suspects and inquiries are continuing," Const Park said.
Police had identified six car-loads of "boyracers", aged between 20 and 25, who attacked the campervan at 1.15am on Saturday.
The offenders were known to police, but no arrests had been made, Const Park said.
