Left to rot

One of only four residents on an abandoned street on Buttershaw, he lives behind boarded up windows, surrounded by vandalism and rubbish.

Even though his rent is paid in full every week, Bradford Council is so unaware of his existence that its workers have twice broken into his near derelict maisonette, presuming it to be empty.

But Mr Diamond, 39, who doesn't even have the ability to complain for himself since suffering severe head injuries in an accident, has been left to suffer in silence.

Now, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe is investigating after his plight was finally exposed by a church minister.

And Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, says she wants to know why he has "slipped through the net" and has not been receiving the support he needs.

The Reverend Ashley Hardingham, minister of Buttershaw Baptist Church, said Mr Diamond's home was the worst accommodation he had ever seen.

"This is an example of Bradford's most vulnerable people not being cared for. The Council obviously is not fulfilling its duty of care," he said.

Mr Diamond, pictured, moved into his home in Stainton Close three years ago. He receives disability benefits which pay his rent. The row of houses has been earmarked for clearance and demolition under proposals to regenerate the Buttershaw corridor, but most residents have already deserted the street because of drug dealing and vandalism.

Last April, tenancy enforcement officers broke into Mr Diamond's house the day after his father's funeral to change the locks.

A volunteer helper at Buttershaw Baptist Church and unpaid handyman around the estate, Mr Diamond said he went to put his key in the door and it would not turn.

He said: "I went to the housing office and they said they'd changed the locks as they thought it was empty. They just gave me a new key.

"This week, they smashed the door in. They haven't apologised to me, they just put another one on from next door."

Contractors had been fitting grilles to adjoining vacant houses to stop youngsters from breaking in, he added.

Mr Hardingham condemned the council's attitude towards Mr Diamond.

He said: "They could've checked whether Robert was a tenant or not, but they broke in, changed the locks and left.

"Stainton Close is an exposed area for vandalism and potential fires.

Other problems have included his water being mistakenly cut off after a leak was discovered in the flat below, he added. Yorkshire Water promptly reconnected the supply and offered compensation.

Mr Diamond said: "They don't do anything to help me. I can't see how anyone could live here - it's not good enough for anyone. I'm trying to do as much as I can for everyone else."

Bradford Council has pledged to re-house him as soon as possible although it wants to put him in a property in Ridings Way which is also set to be demolished.

The council's principal area housing manager, Ian Simpson said the council was concerned about tenants feeling vulnerable and confirmed that Mr Diamond would soon be re-housed as an interim measure.

He said: "We apologise for any distress caused to Mr Diamond following the forced entry of his home and for the inconvenience caused on previous incidents.

"In this particular case, a newly-appointed contractor made a genuine error due to being unfamiliar with the area. They thought the property was unoccupied because some of the windows were boarded up due to persistent vandalism."

They had not been replaced because Mr Diamond did not inform the Neighbourhood Office about the incident, he added.