You hear all the time, People say ” I just can’t believe that….” – Well this is one of those times!!!
Daily Mirror 18/06/2014
On Wednesday June 4th 2014 Michael Hilton from Accrington was forcibly EVICTED from his home.
His Housing Association HYNDBURN HOMES https://www.hyndburnhomes.co.uk/ claim he owes #BedroomTAX.
Michael Hilton has lived in his home for 30 years!!!!
Michael Hilton is not a well man. He has had mental health problems for a considerable time. He was outraged when the Bailiffs turned up at his home. From what I have been told by Michael’s sister, Michael may well have ignored much of the correspondence leading up to Court Proceedings and the eviction itself. Isn’t that what many of us do when we are worried sick and stressed? – We bury our heads in the sand!!!
ALL Michael’s possessions, including treasured photographs and trinkets were thrown in the skip. Along with all his other belongings, including his clothes. A representative employed by Hyndburn Homes is alledged to have said to Michaels neighbours (whilst laughing) ” Help Yourselves”
The house was boarded up immediately and the skip has since been ‘rifled’ by uncaring individuals…..
Whilst I don’t condone bad behaviour of any kind, or threats of violence, Michael took umbridge with the Bailiffs. Poor Soul ended up being arrested for ”Threatening Behaviour’ and ‘Attempted Affray’. He was whisked off to a prison in Liverpool and held on remand until a Crown Court appearance in Burnley this week.
Michael’s hearing was not very positive.
A Trial date has been set for 12th Nov, with plea hearing on 22nd Aug. NO bail – They are still holding him on remand! and again, to my knowledge NO MH assessment!!
How can this man be treated in this way, all he wanted to do was to stay in his home.
Now then, are you ready for ‘that moment’…………
Michael may well have been EXEMPT from Bedroom Tax under the ’1996 Ruling/Loophole!!!!!!!!!!!!
Incredible.
There is a good chance that had the DWP, the Housing Association and the Local Council (Burnley https://www.burnley.gov.uk/ ) have all failed him. Had they have done their job properly, then Michael would NEVER have found himself in this situation!!!!!!!!!!!!
His sister tells me he has been in continuous receipt of Housing Benefit since the mid 80′s. He was however detained at HMP for a brief period of 8 weeks several years ago.
The reason given is, ‘alledgedly’, that he “doesn’t ‘fit the 1996 criteria, his head was not on his own pillow’” – how mad is that????
To my knowledge, there was NEVER a break in his Housing Benefit, he was STILL the registered Tenant at THAT address.
Hey, are we not allowed to sleep elsewhere now? Is that what Burnley Council/HyndburnHomes* want us to believe? Michael could have been visiting you or the Queen for all I care.
He FITS the 1996 Criteria…….
I believe that Burnley Council, failed him. Hyndburn Homes, failed him, the DWP, failed him,…….
Why was he allowed to slip through the net? Where were the ‘Welfare Advice’ teams? Where were his Local Ward Councillors?
But more importantly, the buck stops with Cameron, IDS, McVey and the DWP. This was their Co*k Up and poor Michael Hilton is now in Prison BECAUSE of THEM!!!!!!
*Burnley council identified but Hyndburn homes is Hyndburn council and has nothing to do with Burnley Council (Burnley https://www.burnley.gov.uk/)
Hyndburn council is responsible for this.
Keith [email protected]