'It's not fair' says family told to quit home

8:36am Saturday 10th May 2008

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A FAMILY threatened with being made homeless after they were served with an eviction notice claim they have been treated unfairly.

Elgar Housing Association, which is part of Festival Housing Group, said it had received so many complaints about anti-social behaviour relating to the Johnsons in Elgar Avenue that they have been left with no choice but to terminate the family's short-hold tenancy with two months notice.

But dad Keith Johnson said his 13-year-old son Shane, who suffers with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) which means he is easily provoked and has to take medication to keep him calm, has been targeted, bullied, and framed by other children in a series of anti-social incidents ever since they moved into the property in December 2006.

We reported in August 2006 how Shane had been banned from Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk unless he was accompanied by an adult because staff considered him to be a health and safety risk. Mr Johnson said Shane had calmed down a lot since then and added he had also tried his best to prevent his son from getting into trouble.

"I even put Shane on a curfew to make sure he was kept out of trouble to keep our tenancy," he said. "Since January, I have kept a book of times when he is out, when he is in the house, if I take him anywhere as proof."

Mr Johnson said he thought Elgar was using the fact he put a caravan on his driveway without permission against him. Malvern Hills councillor Val Myatt, who has been involved in the eviction process, said: "I understand Elgar not wanting anti-social behaviour but I think the family probably needs more help with Shane. Elgar has a responsibility to look at anti-social behaviour and deal with it and that's what they are dealing with here."

Festival Housing's executive director Clare Huyton confirmed the family had been given two months notice to leave, which she said was fully within their right, following a tenancy review.

She said they had a number of complaints against the Johnsons, but more specifically Shane. "If the parents are prepared to co-operate with us things might be different," she said. Mr Johnson said he is now working with his solicitor to try and take the matter to court.

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