Grieving man angry over firm’s demand for £1,000

A grieving father has been told to pay £1,000 to remove a disability lift from his home, just days after losing his beloved wife.

Sandra Young collapsed in the Iceland store in The Mall, Maidstone, two weeks ago.

Despite paramedics rushing there, she could not be saved.

The 42-year-old mother-of-three had suffered ill health, which included a heart condition, and husband Peter gave up work to care for her.

Their home in Vinters Park had been adapted with a wet room, hoist and lift, made available by a grant by social housing company Family Mosaic.

After his wife’s sudden death, Mr Young began making arrangements while comforting his sons Andrew, Anthony and Arron.

But the 45-year-old was left confused and angry as he inquired about the care equipment.

He said: “I called Wessex Lifts and it said I’d need to pay £1,000 because it was over six months old.”

Mr Young said the aids were installed just before this threshold.

He said: “I didn’t know any of this at the time and I did not know this was going to happen.”

Mrs Young had already bought and wrapped everyone’s presents, but now her family are left with the worry of a huge bill.

Her devastated parents, Sandra and Ron Boorman, from Sheppey, said the company’s stance has put more pressure on them.

Mrs Boorman said: “We have asked for money at the funeral rather than flowers to help Peter and the family. Sandra would do anything for anyone and always put her family first.

“Even though she was ill, she was the life and soul of the party.”

Before her illness Mrs Young attended the now-closed Senacre Technical College, in Sutton Road. She ran her own cleaning business and made making handmade cards.

She described her family as her life and she was a proud grandmother to six-month-old Sienna and a much cherished sister and auntie.

Mrs Boorman wrote a moving tribute: “Our own butterfly has flown away, it has left us with a big hole that no one can fill.”

In a moving tribute, Peter and her sons said: “If we were given just one wish it would be to being you back home. We know you are around us.”

The family is now waiting for a funeral date.

The KM has contacted Wessex Lifts.