Latest news with #Fitton
STV News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Scottish housing crisis is making people suicidal, industry warns
A housing industry leader has said the Scottish housing crisis is causing people to have suicidal thoughts. Susie Fitton from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) told MSPs on Thursday that social landlords speak to people 'expressing suicidal thoughts about their housing issues' on a regular basis. The SFHA policy manager told MSPs on Holyrood's social justice and social security committee that over one in ten staff, on a daily or weekly basis, had spoken to applicants expressing suicidal thoughts about their housing issues.q Ms Fitton added: 'This really is the side of the housing emergency that doesn't really get talked about very often.' She said the issue had been raised at the SFHA annual conference earlier this week when 'somebody said 'we need registered social landlords in Scotland to stop people from feeling like they need to kill themselves because of their housing situation''. She also told the committee that demand for social housing – provided by councils and housing associations – is 'obviously outstripping supply in many areas'. MSPs took evidence on the housing crisis on Thursday morning as at least 12 councils have already declared local housing emergencies. The first was declared by Argyll and Bute Council in June 2023. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife and West Dunbartonshire Councils followed suit. The Scottish Government formally declared a national housing emergency on May 15, 2024. Nationally, 17,424 households were classed as either being homeless or threatened with homelessness between April 1 and September 30 last year. As of September 30, there were a record 16,634 households living in temporary accommodation – which included 10,360 children. Tony Cain, from the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO), told MSPs: 'It doesn't matter where you are in Scotland, there is a shortage of social rented homes, it is as simple as that. 'There are more people looking for a social rented home than there are homes available each year to meet their needs.' While he stressed the importance of 'plotting a way out of the housing emergency', he also said there is a need to ensure 'those who are caught up in it are safe'. Noting 242 people who had been in contact with services to help the homeless had died in 2022-23, he insisted not enough resources are being put into supporting vulnerable households. Mr Cain said: 'The right support at the right moment makes a big difference and we are simply not putting enough resources into support services to understand people's needs, the risks that they face and to keep them safe. 'So as well as finding a way out, safely managing services to people who are caught in it is critical. 'We need to be offering more support to vulnerable households and we aren't resourced to do that at the moment.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Abuser stopped me brushing teeth for two years'
A mother whose controlling partner forced her to stop brushing her teeth for two years and threatened to disfigure her with boiling water and kill her son has told of living in "constant fear". Hannah Mellor suffered physical and psychological abuse over a two-year period at the hands of Ben Fitton, who was jailed for 18 years for offences including rape, strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour and grievous bodily harm (GBH). She has decided to waive her right to anonymity to tell her story and urge other victims to come forward after she reached out to Greater Manchester Police for help. Det Con Russ Clarke said her experience was "one of worst cases of abuse ever seen" by the Mellor said Fitton was "gentle and kind" at the start of their relationship before he became jealous and paranoid that she was with other people. In some instances, he beat her causing serious injuries and, in others, his controlling and coercive behaviour began to show. He banned her from wearing makeup, or showering "as being clean meant that I would be cheating on him," Ms Mellor said. "Part of the control was that I wasn't allowed to brush my teeth for the whole of the relationship. "Unfortunately for me, its left me with severely decayed teeth, which I really struggle with." Ms Mellor, originally from Glossop, said she felt there was no easy way to get out of the relationship, as Fitton knew where her family and young son lived. He had made threats to kill her son, her mother and her sister's cat, telling her on one occasion that he would "paint blood all over the shop" when finding them. She said she had done "what I though was right to keep everyone safe" and stayed with him while remaining silent about the abuse. Det Con Clarke said: "What she had to endure at the hands of Ben Fitton, nobody should have to go through." Fitton had been "consumed by jealousy, paranoia, and anger", which had fuelled his "sustained campaign of sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse", Det Con Clarke added. The abuse took its toll on Ms Mellor and she was taken in to hospital after trying to take her own life. She then chose to contact Greater Manchester Police for help, which led to Fitton's conviction. Ms Mellor has urged domestic abuse victims to reach out for help, adding "no matter how hard you think it is, keeping going, keep going" She said: "There is so much help when you reach for it, but you have to make sure that you are strong, and you are ready to be done forever, not for anybody else, but for yourself." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. 'I had no choice but to flee my controlling partner' Coercive control to be treated like other domestic abuse offences Greater Manchester Police
BBC News
21-02-2025
- BBC News
'My abuser stopped me brushing my teeth for two years'
A mother whose controlling partner forced her to stop brushing her teeth for two years and threatened to disfigure her with boiling water and kill her son has told of living in "constant fear".Hannah Mellor suffered physical and psychological abuse over a two-year period at the hands of Ben Fitton, who was jailed for 18 years for offences including rape, strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour and grievous bodily harm (GBH).She has decided to waive her right to anonymity to tell her story and urge other victims to come forward after she reached out to Greater Manchester Police for Con Russ Clarke said her experience was "one of worst cases of abuse ever seen" by the force. Warning: This story contains references to domestic abuse and suicide. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, help and support is available via BBC Action Mellor said Fitton was "gentle and kind" at the start of their relationship before he became jealous and paranoid that she was with other people. In some instances, he beat her causing serious injuries and, in others, his controlling and coercive behaviour began to banned her from wearing makeup, or showering "as being clean meant that I would be cheating on him," Ms Mellor said. "Part of the control was that I wasn't allowed to brush my teeth for the whole of the relationship."Unfortunately for me, its left me with severely decayed teeth, which I really struggle with." Ms Mellor, originally from Glossop, said she felt there was no easy way to get out of the relationship, as Fitton knew where her family and young son had made threats to kill her son, her mother and her sister's cat, telling her on one occasion that he would "paint blood all over the shop" when finding them. She said she had done "what I though was right to keep everyone safe" and stayed with him while remaining silent about the abuse. Det Con Clarke said: "What she had to endure at the hands of Ben Fitton, nobody should have to go through."Fitton had been "consumed by jealousy, paranoia, and anger", which had fuelled his "sustained campaign of sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse", Det Con Clarke added. The abuse took its toll on Ms Mellor and she was taken in to hospital after trying to take her own then chose to contact Greater Manchester Police for help, which led to Fitton's conviction. Ms Mellor has urged domestic abuse victims to reach out for help, adding "no matter how hard you think it is, keeping going, keep going"She said: "There is so much help when you reach for it, but you have to make sure that you are strong, and you are ready to be done forever, not for anybody else, but for yourself." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
The Mancunian Way: A campaign of abuse
After years of control, abuse, isolation, fear and horrific violence, Hannah Mellor is finally free. Last week, her abusive ex-partner, Ben Fitton, was finally brought to justice and jailed for 18 years. Hannah has now bravely waived her right to anonymity and told the Manchester Evening News about the unimaginable campaign of abuse she endured. READ MORE: Body found as fire breaks out at block of flats - live updates READ MORE: Man who died at Manchester Airport swallowed cocaine found in his underwear Fitton, 33, sent thousands of vile messages and voice notes to Hannah, repeatedly attacked her and would routinely throw cups of tea over her. He raped her after strangling her and threatening to pour a kettle of boiling water over her if she didn't perform a sex act upon him. But it was when Fitton made a terrifying threat to go to her little boy's school with a knife, that she knew she had to do something to make it stop. "It got to a point that I didn't care anymore," Hannah, 32, told the M.E.N.. "I said it wasn't a big issue if he killed me, because being killed was probably better than living the life I was. "I know it was hard, my mum told all my family to prepare themselves to have to bury me. She thought he was going to go too far or do it on purpose or I would take my own life. "She wasn't far off wrong." After a five-week trial, Fitton, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of two offences of rape, non-fatal strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour and causing grievous bodily harm. You can read Hannah's harrowing interview with court reporter Amy Walker here. Weekend: There'll be sunny intervals on Saturday with highs of 13° before a yellow warning for wind comes into force on Sunday morning. It's also expected to rain all day. Trams: No trams will run through Victoria on Sunday until 10am. Work at Weaste continues until Tuesday, meaning there'll also be no trams between Eccles and MediaCityUK. Airport death: A man who died at Manchester Airport this week had swallowed what is believed to have been cocaine found in his underwear, the M.E.N. understands. More here. Homelessness cuts: Trafford council will only offer emergency accommodation to homeless people with a 'priority need' from now on. It comes amid 'unprecedented levels of homelessness' and a 'significant increase' in need for temporary housing. More here. Back in town: Manchester's St Patrick's Parade will return to the city centre for the first time in over four years. The procession will take place on Sunday, March 16. More here. What do you do when you can't afford to bury a loved one? That's the struggle one family from Fallowfield is currently facing. Susan Morton, 65, sadly passed away last month, but the mother-of-six's body remains at a funeral home. Find out why and read all about it here.
