By Victoria Mckeown-
A south London mum has revealed that a former Councillor associated with the woeful failings of Croydon Council, gives her constant nightmares because of his negligent role in addressing multiple calls for help, before her son was stabbed twice within a four months period.
Simone John claims to constantly see axed former Croydon Councillor, Simon Hall ,teasing her in her dreams, ever since she discovered he left Croydon Council without being held to account for ignoring her multiple mails begging to be moved after her son- 15 years at the time- got stabbed twice within a 4 month period-once in November 2018, and the second time in March 2019.
The single mother of three said she had been left traumatized by the sheer neglect she was subjected to by councilors at the notorious Croydon Council.
She is seeking compensation from the Council for the effects of their neglect on her mental health, and has expressed further distress that she has been constantly ignored by council staff, including Croydon Mp, Sarah Jones, whom she says she has reached out to several times, pleading for help.
Mr. Hall had a particular effect on her because he lived in the same vicinity as her, but did absolutely nothing to address her complaints.
Ms John has developed Post Traumatic Stress from the trauma of witnessing her son in a pool of blood shortly after his second stabbing. She says she is traumatized by the sounds of sirens and the sight of young black youths in hoodies, because it makes her panic.
Speaking to The Eye Of Media.Com this afternoon, 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 assistant, and been hung to dry lie I don’t matter. I now the council has other important matters to deal with, but they can’t keep ignoring me. Last wee I was given an email by James Broenshire, my new Mp to contact Doutimi Aseh, the new Head of Social Care and Education Law.
She finally mailed me last week Monday and requested my number, promising to call me. Seven days later, I have still heard nothing. It looks like, I am being put through the same cycle of being pushed by the way side, and its driving me crazy. I get so upset, I’ve been told that if I am not careful it could lead to a stroke”.
In desperation, Ms John mailed Croydon council, Croydon Mp Sarah Jones, and Ms Aseh, CC’ing the BBC, her former local Croydon Advertiser paper, and The Eye Of Media, expressing her frustrations at being ignored.
The mother of three from Croydon South London sent over 30 emails over a 2-3 year period to officials from the council, detailing an impending danger facing her 17 year 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.
The brutal reality of fatalities for teenagers in London, particularly heightened her concern, as she contacting multiple officials in the council.
Councils in the Uk have a duty to move families where there is an immediate danger to the limb or life of one of its members, which is verifiable. 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 he was stabbed the first time, reasonable professionals should have taken appropriate action.
Accommodation Plea
In desperation, Ms John mailed Mr Hall and several other councilors, begging to be moved due to serious threats to her then 16 year old son, Na -Sharn. She was met by a wall of silence, until her son was first stabbed in November, 2018. Ms John then intensified her calls for intervention, but was woefully ignored. Simon Hall in particular, emailed her once to arrange a meeting on a day she was unable to make.
She repeatedly proposed rescheduling the date, but was ignored by him each time. Other efforts she made to be assisted fell on deaf ears.
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 he was stabbed the first time, reasonable professionals should have taken appropriate action.
Her young son was stabbed a second time in March 2019- this time hospitalized. He lost movement in his arm, and has apparently suffered from recurrent nightmares since the incident. 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, and for the first time got Croydon Council to respond and acknowledge my sorrows. Prior to that, I simply didn’t exist. They eventually admitted they failed me, so I now want to be compensated, but they are going silent on me again. Just like they did before, just like they have done to the poor residents who had to endure damp leaks for years
A call from this publication was responded to by Mr.Hall’s representatives, who requested email communication, but did not respond to the questions we asked in relation to ignoring the woman’s emails.
Mp Intervention
Ms John was eventually moved to Last year, the intervention of her Mp, James Brokenshire, led to a report from Croydon Council, admitting liability for negligence. Mr. Brokenshire has been following up the complaint. She has since attempted to track down the legal department of Croydon Council, in a push for compensation over the the whole incident. Some lawyers say the level of negligence exhibited in the case of Ms Jones was so alarming, there would be a case for suggesting racism played a part in the way she was treated.
Others believe it was merely symptomatic of the already incompetent council to just shelve important communication, and leave it to rust. Both are unified that Ms Jones was caused serious damage mentally, which has caused her a lot of anger and resentment.
Simon Hall is among those 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 are to be lost as a result of those failings, though the company never actually had any staff, instead using Community Equipment Services workers. Those workers are expected to be redeployed.
News that Croydon’s cash-strapped council is to write off another £200,000 of debts to be paid off by Croydon Council Tax-payers until the year 2061 does not convince her she will be getting compensation anytime soon. Citizens advice bureau are trying to find her a solicitor to help her through legal aid.