By Gavin Mackintosh And Victoria Mckeown-
Croydon Council is under pressure to locate and question one of their axed former councillors, Simon Hall , after he constantly ignored one of his endangered constituents who begged to be moved out of the borough for safety reasons.
Simon hall (pictured)was contacted by 45 year old Simone John in 2018, and asked to intervene and move her family out of the crime ridden Croydon area , after her son was stabbed first in November 18, then again in April 19, leaving the then 15 year old hospitalized the second time.
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Other council leaders she contacted for help also ignored her, leaving the distressed mother feeling worthless and very distressed. A few emails to Croydon Mp, Sarah Jones, eventually secured a meeting , but not much action was taken to help her even then.
The cash stripped council has also been asked to locate two social workers, whom they admit failed in their duty to act on behalf of the mother who expressed desperation for assistance.
The Eye Of Media.Com has contacted Chief Executive of Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, and Croydon Mp, Sarah Jones, asking both to locate Simon Hall and the two social workers, whom the council itself admitted failed to progress the pleas of mother of three who was in a panicking about her son’s safety. An inquiry about the embarrassing failings is also required , an expectation probably too high for a council notorious for its negligence towards residents of the borough.
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Over a year has lapsed since Simone John, has been calling for Croydon Council to be held to account for their irresponsible handling of her case, but she has been sent round the houses, and has still seen none of the council officials held to account.
Councillor Simon Hall stands out in her mind, because of a heavy resentment she has towards him for ignoring her calls, and the fact he lived in the vicinity of her address.
The single mother of three said she had been left traumatized by the sheer neglect she was subjected to by councillors at the notorious Croydon Council, and particularly has recurrent dreams in which she sees Mr.Hall taunting her.
The post traumatic stress she has developed as a result of the whole incidence is getting worse by the day, Ms Jones is on strong medication to help her cope with her condition.
Irresponsible Simon Hall resigned from his post at the council in 2020, following the huge mismanagement of funds at the notorious council.
He is among a number of incompetent council leaders held responsible for a series of council failings in Croydon, including the circumstances that has led to the recent shut down of YourCare (Croydon) Ltd, a private company set up in 2017 to sell wheelchairs, commodes and other home support equipment.
Five jobs were lost as a result of those failings, though YourCareLtd never actually had any staff, instead using Community Equipment Services workers. Those workers are expected to be redeployed. His current occupation is unknown, but there are concerns that he is likely go repeat the failings that saw him forced to step down from his role and treat the traumatized mother of three so recklessly.
Ms John developed Post Traumatic Stress from the trauma of witnessing her son(whose name we have withheld at her request) in a pool of blood shortly after his second stabbing. She says she is traumatized by the sounds of police sirens and the sight of young black youths in hoodies, because it makes her panic.
Speaking to The Eye Of Media.Com today , she said:” The image I got from those attacking my son is the image that stayed in my psyche. Anytime I hear sirens or see youths in hoodies, it affects me mentally.
”What hurts me more is the fact that I have contacted so many people begging for assistance, and been hung to dry lie I don’t matter. I know the council has other important matters to deal with, but they ignoried me for such a long time, it was awful. It wasn’t until my new Mp, James Brokenshire contacted them that they responded, until then, it was like I didn’t exist at all to them.
My son still has no movement in his arm, and also struggles to get a good night sleep.
I would like to see all those who failed me questioned and disciplined for failing to fulfil their duties’.
The mother of three from Croydon South London sent over 30 emails over a 2 year period to officials from the council, detailing an impending danger facing her then 15year old son, and asking to be moved out of the borough. She said the gang life culture in the borough had left her terrified for her sons life, after he was confronted and threatened by a group of thugs threatening him over a mutual friend they had.
On one occasion, she found hooded thugs hiding in her shed, in an attempt to hide from police who had been pursuing the youths .’It was a frighteningexperience to see teenage strangers in my shed that day, they must ha e jumped over a fence to get into my garden. It was a very worrying a d distressing time for me”.
The brutal reality of fatalities for teenagers in London, particularly heightened her concerns for her son safety, causing her sleepless nights for months on end.
This publication contacted Criydon Council several times about her case between 2020 and 2021 but they declined to discuss the matter with us, despite consent from Ms John for them to do so.
Councils in the Uk have a duty to move families out of their accommodation where there is an immediate danger to the limb or life of one of its residents. But Croydon Council made no attempt to address the problem. A mere threat may not have been viewed as constituting serious danger, but by the time the teenager was stabbed the first time, reasonable professionals from the councils should have taken appropriate action.
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Croydon Council made no attempt to address the problem for more than a year, responding only after the woman’s new MP, James Brokenshire, intervened.
Her young son was stabbed a second time in March 2019- this time he was hospitalized. He lost movement in his arms. After being ignored multiple times, the woman contacted Croydon Mp Sarah Jones, pleading for assistance. The Mp eventually met with Ms John, after the second stabbing.
”What really upset me about Simon Hall is the fact he lives in Addington, where I lived. He should have responded to my cry for help a lot sooner than he did. I keep seeing him in my dreams, teasing me for being ignored, and making me feel worthless.
Ms John was eventually moved to Bexleyheath where her new ‘ Mp James Berkenshire was very supportive.
A call from this publication was responded to by Mr.Hall’s representatives, who requested email communication about our query, but did not respond to the questions we asked in relation to ignoring the woman’s emails.
Ms John has since submitted a written complaint to Croydon Council, and is awaiting a response from them about the matter.
Simon Hall and Croydon Council were contacted for comment.
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