Owner of popular Basingstoke coffee shop 'touched' by anonymous donation after being targeted by 'drunken vandals'

Mary Stevens is facing a £200 bill thanks to 'drunken idiots' who smashed a window at Willows Coffee House late Saturday night, 'exploding' shards of glass across the premises.

She admitted being left 'shaken' and 'frustrated' by the ordeal, having suffered similar damage, alongside several other businesses, just a few months ago. 

However, one generous customer has since lifted her spirits by leaving a touching note alongside £40 to help cover the repair costs. 

The note read: "Dear Mary, I hope you put this towards the new window. I'm sorry some people are so rubbish they have to ruin things for others. From a loyal customer."

In what proved an added sweetener, the note went on to say Willows' coffee "was the best by far in Basingstoke". 

Moved by the gesture, a rather shocked Ms Stevens took to Facebook to say a heartfelt thank you.

She said: "Oh my goodness! I have been so touched by this anonymous contribution. Thank you so so much!

"I can't tell you how happy you've made me feel - you've restored my faith in human nature. Thankfully the good people far outweigh the bad. Whoever you are, thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Since receiving the note, two fundraisers have been set up on her behalf. Glaze-fix Windows and Doors has also offered to repair the broken pane free of charge. Ms Stevens has said she'll donate any money raised to charity.

She was abruptly woken by a call from police at 5.30am on Sunday alerting her to the incident.

She said: "I've got elderly parents and one of them is touch and go, so when you get a phone call at that time in the morning your mind starts racing. You don't know what to think, it could be about one of your kids or anything - it's that heart-stopping moment."

Not wanting to wake any of her staff, Ms Stevens headed straight for the Church Street store to start the clean-up operation so she could open for customers as normal at 11am. 

She described the top of town as an "absolute tip" and said it looked like there had been a "takeaway food fight".

Basingstoke town centre on Sunday morning

While nothing was stolen from the shop, Ms Stevens admitted she was “shocked” by the extent of the damage vandals had caused, adding that it took her three hours to clear the mess.

"Whatever was thrown or used to hit the window must have been done with such force because the glass was absolutely everywhere,” she said.

“It wasn't just on the shop floor, either. Some of it was on the shelves right at the back, behind the coffee machine and even in the sink.”

Ms Stevens has since patched up the damage and will be returning after the shop closes today to secure the window with plywood until a fitter can come and replace the bespoke glass tomorrow. However, she said the incident will put significant strain on the businesses’ finances.

The patched up window pane

"It's a window at the end of the day, but it's not just a window. We're a small business and £200 to replace it is quite a lot of money for us. It's so hard for us at the moment, everything is so expensive and this something we could absolutely do without. We had to throw away some of the crafter's stuff as well.

“There was some really lovely art which people had worked hard on which was just beyond repair. It's just mindless behaviour from a bunch of idiots who have got drunk and not been able to control themselves. They probably can't even remember what they did.”

She added: "We're there for the community. Although I'm a businesswoman, I'm probably the worst businesswoman in the world because I don't make anything - it all goes back into the shop. So many things need doing and that £200 would have gone a long way.

"Since we opened two years ago, we've supported over 110 local businesses, individuals, charities and schools. Probably around 95 per cent of those are from Basingstoke. Everything we do is aimed at helping others, that's the whole point of the place for me. So, to have someone from your own town do this is frustrating to say the least."

Officers are currently reviewing CCTV from Willows and some of the neighbouring businesses as they investigate the incident.

In the meantime, Ms Stevens has opened her shop as normal and asked residents to show their support.