A disabled five-year-old boy is forced to sleep in a CUPBOARD after his family home was destroyed by a flood.
Lucas-James Weston, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has spent nearly eight weeks kipping in the cupboard after leaking pipes wrecked his house.
The little lad’s condition, which affects his movement and delays development, means he sleeps for 15 hours a night.
He was initially sharing a room with his sister Brooke, but she is being assessed for ADHD and gets less than five hours, meaning Lucas-James now kips in the cupboard.
His mum and dad, Rebecca and James, were forced to move from their three-bedroom house in Swanley, Kent, two months ago.
West Kent Housing Association initially said they would find the family a suitable house within two weeks – but months later they are still waiting.
Rebecca, 28, said: “Two weeks was not ideal but was manageable but eight weeks is just too much.
“He started taking himself to the cupboard because it would stay dark even when Brooke woke up so now we’ve made him a bed in there as we can’t stop him doing it.
“It’s not just the sleeping arrangements but the house is not adapted for his needs, meaning he hasn’t been able to use his stair climber or bath equipment.
“We’ve now been told we can go back as soon as they’ve finished decorating but the carpets won’t be laid until later on.
“Lucas-James goes around on his hands and knees a lot and there are still grippers in the floor which we can’t take out so it’s completely inappropriate.”
She added: “Every time I speak to West Kent I deal with a different person.”
Joanne Hiscock, head of property at West Kent Housing Association, said: “We’re very sorry this is taking so long. We are redecorating the areas damaged as a result of the leak.
“Ms Weston is currently choosing the wallpaper for the sitting room that we will hang as soon as she has it.
“We advised Ms Weston to claim on her insurance for the carpets and other furnishings that were damaged and have agreed, from the start, to pay the excess so that she isn’t out of pocket.
“We would need to see proof of the claim in order to reimburse her and haven’t seen that yet.”
