Mum claims council refuse to safeguard her after neighbour accused of masturbating outside her window
A mum living in a council flat with her one-year-old baby claims the council refused to safeguard her after she found a man allegedly masturbating outside her window.
Paige Bernard, 26, who lives in a council flat managed by Lewisham Homes in Redfurn Road, Catford, said she called the police on Sunday after a man who lives nearby was allegedly masturbating outside her window.
Lewisham Homes is a housing organisation under the control of Lewisham council.
Ms Bernard, who works for a housing association, claims she has been repeatedly harassed by the man.
She said: “I didn’t realise how much it traumatised me until yesterday.
“I can’t sleep because every time I close my eyes I can see him stood by my window. It was so graphic, I could see everything, my little boy saw it all too. It’s disgusting.
“It feels like I have anxiety or PTSD, any loud noises make me jump. He’s at the police station right now but he might get bailed today.
“I’m scared because he knows I am the one who called the police on him.”
Ms Bernard claims she has been complaining to Lewisham Homes for three years about the man for “weeing” by her window and “spitting” on her door.
Lewisham Homes opened an anti-social behaviour case into Mr Bernard’s claims in 2021 but she said they “refused” to move her to a different property and the case was closed in February this year.
Ms Bernard said: “I don’t like going near my window anymore. Lewisham Homes told me I need to go to Lewisham council and that there’s nothing they can do.
“One of the officers even said they aren’t obligated to safeguard me and my boy.”
The Met have confirmed that the man has been charged with indecent exposure and being in breach of a Community Order.
A spokeswoman from the Met said: “The arrested man was due to appear at Bromley Magistrates Court on August 22, however before he could appear, he was taken to hospital under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 where he remains at this time.”
A spokeswoman from Lewisham Homes said: “We are sorry that Ms Bernard has had this unpleasant and frightening experience.
“Our Anti-Social Behaviour team is working closely with the Police to determine the appropriate course of action to effectively safeguard Ms Bernard and other residents of Redfern Road.
“We will continue to support Ms Bernard and keep her informed throughout the police investigation.”
Pictured top: Stock image with view from Ms Bernard’s window (Picture: Pexels/Pixabay/Paige Bernard)