Mum living in fear of rapist ex hit by bedroom tax snub
Fight on against injustice
A RAPE victim is living in fear after her appeal against the Bedroom Tax was rejected.
The vulnerable woman and her son were one of five families whose claim was spurned by the Supreme Court.
Two families won appeals against the hated tax that penalises council residents for spare bedrooms.
The woman, known as A, moved to a fortified home with reinforced doors, an alarm system and a panic room to protect her against attacks by her ex.
He had raped, assaulted and stalked her.
But the only property available was a three-bedroom home, making her liable for the Bedroom Tax when it came into force.
She told us: “I still suffer anxiety and am very scared for my son and my own future. It seems it’s just getting worse and I do not know how much more I can take.
“I think the Bedroom Tax policy is terrible and it does not recognise that in some parts of the country there are more three-beds than two-beds. That is why I’m here in the first place.
“We will continue with the case until we know that me and my son can stay safe in our home.”
The Supreme Court ruled A must be provided housing under the THE Sunday People has been fighting the Bedroom Tax since its introduction §in 2013. A penalty that punishes some of the most vulnerable in society can never be right.
And we were the first to recognise the sheer injustice of it. We broke the story of Stephanie Bottrill, the grandmother who killed herself when she was forced to leave her home.
Stephanie’s death should have ended the hated policy on the spot. But it Sanctuary Scheme but she aims to keep fighting the tax.
She said: “I am very disappointed we did not win but at the same time relieved the court has recognised we have to be able to stay where we are.”
Solicitor Rebekah Carrier said she would be taking her client’s case to the European Court of Human Rights.
She said: “My client has been subjected to the bedroom tax as she was allocated a three-bedroom house, through no cho choice of her own, due to a short shortage of two- bedroom hous houses. She is a vulnerable sin single parent who has b been a victim of rape and assault. Her life remains at risk and she is terrified.
“For her physical sa safety, housing security an and psychological we wellbeing to be endangered b by the bedroom tax is both cruel and illogical.”
But the Supreme Court overturned a 2014 Court of Appeal decision against Jacqueline Carmichael, 44, who lives with her husband in a twobedroom housing association flat in Southport, Merseyside.
She claimed housing benefit changes unlawfully discriminate against disabled social housing tenants with an extra bedroom.
Paul and Sue Rutherford, of Pembrokeshire, who care for a teenage grandson, were also successful. didn’t. The battle had to go on. Last week it reached the Supreme Court, where seven families took on the Government.
Two won, giving fresh hope to the campaign. But at the same hearing, other families – including a victim of domestic violence – were ruled against.
Despite this, they will fight on. And so will we. There are ways to solve Britain’s housing crisis. But brutalising people with this cruel tax isn’t one of them.