Carer and historic abuse victim faces eviction from his mother’s flat

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A historic abuse victim has revealed the extent of his trauma as he faces eviction from his mother’s flat.

Louis Kelly, 40, of Sandmere Road, Clapham, was taken away from his mum, with three siblings, after his father went to prison and his mother could not cope.

Louis was 10 – his parents had for several years been addicted to crack cocaine.

But his ordeal had only just begun. Louis was first installed at the notorious South Vale children’s home in 1990, then another Lambeth children’s home, Highland Road in Gipsy Hill.

He was placed by Lambeth in another privately-run home outside the borough in 1991.

Two other siblings went into foster care with parents in Lewisham and had a good upbringing.

At the out-of-borough home, he was locked in his bedroom and was supervised by untrained staff.

But he was regularly taken from his bed in the middle of the night, held face down by up to three men who held his hands back, almost breaking his arms.

They then assaulted him. He was also beaten with a pool cue. In one four-week period, he was restrained 44 times.

He was also regularly taken to the country on day trips – where he was beaten, had his head stood on and his testicles squeezed.

During his time at the privately-run home Louis claims a friend killed himself after being abused.

Louis said: “Lambeth refused responsibility for the abuse because the home I was sent to outside the borough was privately run. It’s outrageous.

Lambeth are trying to evade responsibility for the abuse there because it was privately run – but they placed me there.

“The abuse was a form of sadomasochism. They stood on my head and beat me. It was chronic brutality.

The trauma was brutal. I’ve been advised to have therapy because the conditions I have, like PTSD and agoraphobia and panic attacks, are incurable.

“I have to learn to live with these conditions.”

Louis was born in Ireland and the family moved to the St Matthew’s Estate in Brixton when he was four.

His father, once a manager on the London Underground, went to prison addicted to crack cocaine, and his mother was left with all their kids.

His father died of AIDS on Louis’ 18th birthday. He has never been able to get a paid job, but in 2009 moved to his mother’s flat in Sandmere Road, Clapham to look after her.

He said “The housing association need to give me a fresh tenancy.

They take a month to even consider these things and now they say they are going ahead with evicting me.

“My doctor has said if they attempt to move me, it’ll cause serious distress and panic attacks.”

A letter from Lambeth chief executive Andrew Travers and leader Councillor Jack Hopkins in March last year apologised for the abuse in the homes it ran.

It said: “The council recognises it will have taken immense bravery and courage to come forward and tell us about the sexual, physical, racial and psychological abuse you experienced, particularly when you may have feared you would not be believed.

“We know you have spent many years living with the consequences of what happened to you and that these events have caused you great trauma and distress.

“On behalf of Lambeth council, we apologise unreservedly for our failure to protect you when we had the responsibility to do so.

“We know now that we let you down at a time when you most needed the council’s help and support.

We are very sorry it has taken so long for the council to acknowledge its past failings and we know this delay will have contributed to the suffering you have endured.

Given what you have told us, we know that you were not able to speak out or stop the abuse.”

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‘Abused in care, abused now’

A child abuse victim now aged 40 has received an eviction notice to vacate the flat where he looked after his mother for more than 10 years.

Louis Kelly has been told by landlords L&Q they have considered his application to take over the tenancy – but will still be thrown out.

The abuse survivor, of Sandmere Road, Clapham, who was attacked aged 10 while in the care of Lambeth council, has been given compensation but cannot spend it on housing – it must be spent on his 18-year-old son and 12-year old daughter.

Louis has been looking after his mum, Geraldine, since she had a stroke and a heart attack in August 2019 and was taken to live in the British Home, West Norwood – he had been her registered carer until then.

But he received a possession order from L&Q on January 18 after being told the tenancy could not be transferred to him.

The father-of-two-said: “I’m pretty much a mess. I’ve had two panic attacks just over this issue which my doctor has confirmed.

“But they’ve actually caused me to have more than 10 of them. These people have not considered my mental health – but they have a duty to house people like me under the Mental Health Act.

“We have spent more than £2,000 doing up the flat with a new bath – and I’ve been paying the bills since my mother moved into the British Home in Streatham.

This is unacceptable to the point of being obscene.

“L&Q were well aware I’ve been living there since 2009 on a sofa bed in the living room so I could look after my mother.

They have also completely ignored my emails for help regarding leaks and damp that have affected my breathing and mobility.

“I’ve already been abused while under Lambeth’s care – now I am being abused again.”

Louis had a breakdown after his mother had a stroke in August 2019.

He said: “I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2020 and have agoraphobia as well as panic attacks. Lambeth will have to house me if I’m evicted – it makes no sense.

“The accommodation Lambeth Homeless Section have offered me is too far away from SW4, where I am having therapy, which is vital to my recovery. Everything I need is local.”

A letter from his doctor said: “He suffers from ongoing memories and nightmares of his traumatic incidences which continue to occur two to three times a week.

In my opinion Mr Kelly satisfies the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.”

A letter from L&Q on January 22 said: “We are aware Mr Kelly is a vulnerable adult.

I understand he is receiving help from Lambeth Homeless Section to secure accommodation, therefore he will not be homeless.”

A spokesman for L&Q said: “We appreciate this has been a frustrating and stressful time for Mr Kelly and would like to apologise for any upset caused.

L&Q is aware of Mr Kelly’s circumstances and our tenancy management team have been working with him to find a solution that meets his housing needs.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to share more details at this time.

However, we would like to reassure Mr Kelly that we are committed to working with all parties to secure a positive outcome for everyone involved.”