A single mother from Birkenhead has described an 18-month ordeal of harassment from a neighbour, which she says has left her autistic daughter frightened to leave the house. Emma Mitchison, 25-year-old Chloe's mother, told the Liverpool Echo that the neighbour has used offensive slurs about Chloe's disability and subjected them to constant intimidation.
Mitchison said the problems began after the neighbour noticed a Ring doorbell camera on her door and posted a letter. Since then, she claims the neighbour has called her names, played loud music deliberately, and made life miserable. 'People say just ignore her, but when you hear what she said to your own flesh and blood, it's very hard to ignore,' Mitchison said.
The family has reported the issues to their landlord, Family Housing Association, and Merseyside Police. However, police stated there was no evidence crimes had been committed but said they were providing support. The Echo also approached the neighbour for comment but received no response.
Mitchison said the situation has severely affected her mental health, forcing her to take medication. 'I feel like we are stuck. We want to move on but there's just nowhere to move to. That is the only way out of this situation,' she added. The family has been offered another property but deemed it less safe than their current home.
A Family Housing Association spokesperson said they take hate crime allegations seriously and have investigated every reported incident. They have referred the victim to the Hate Crime Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference and arranged support from Daisy UK, a charity for disabled families. They also contacted social services and the tenant's GP.
