A disabled man has claimed he feels unsafe in his own home due to the harassment and abuse he is experiencing. Robert said he is so worried about being attacked that he has a hidden camera in his studio flat, and also records on his phone every time he leaves his flat.
The 48-year-old has now dropped out of college, lost weight and struggles to sleep because of the persistent bullying he faces, he claims. Robert said that the problems started in February and that he feels the situation is escalating and getting worse. However, Robert fears that his landlord, the police and the council will not act until something bad happens.
Robert - who said he is not able to work due to a back problem and is now classed as disabled - moved to Imperial Apartments in March 2021, after being referred there by the council. A council review into the controversial development in Hengrove found last week that the site is "suitable for many families with children".
Read more: Imperial Apartments IS suitable for children, council finds and will start rehousing families there
One of the criteria used to assess suitability was risk of violence from any person, together with affordability and physical condition of the property. The review came after BristolLive reported on many concerns from residents at the former Parkview office complex in Hengrove and a request from the Bristol South MP to stop housing families with children at the development.
Robert has now opened up about his experience of living at the site which he claimed has included physical and verbal abuse. The resident claimed the attacks are being carried out by two other residents and have included being pushed as well as being threatened.
However, landlord Caridon has said that CCTV disproves the allegations and that some of the events now reported by Robert were not reported to them. Caridon also said that the tenant has never reported having a disability to them.
The resident said: "I am getting terrorised. They are trying to provoke me, they want me to fight them.
"The other day I went downstairs and he was parked in his car and said 'police are not going to do anything for you'. This was last weekend.
"It is making me feel very unsafe, that I need to be gone from here. I am extremely worried living here. I am recording on my phone every time I leave my flat as I am worried they are going to try to stab me or kill me. It is horrifying for me to be here. I think it is racially motivated because they say things like 'you don't belong here'."
The former lorry driver said he feels he is being bullied, adding these people know not to mention his skin colour and instead will say things like 'you are from the gutter'. He said he had never experienced racism like this before and that he is now being supported by Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI).
Do you live at Imperial Apartments? What do you think about living there? Our reporter Estel would love to hear from you. You can contact her directly on estel.farellroig@reachplc.com
Robert - who moved to Bristol while he was still recovering from his back operation and, unable to find anywhere to live, ended up in a homeless shelter - claimed they have also tried to push him down the stairs, threatened to kill him and has had parcels stolen before.
Avon and Somerset Police said two reports by one individual of being assaulted at Imperial Apartments in February and March this year have been investigated by police. The force said that in each case a different named suspect was interviewed and made a counter-allegation, claiming self-defence.
CCTV evidence was reviewed as part of the police investigations, police said, and in the February incident - which BristolLive understands was the allegation of being pushed down the stairs - this supported the account of the accused person. The force said CCTV also showed the individual was mistaken in believing the accused person to be responsible for the theft of a parcel.
Robert said he thinks that it all started because these two residents got jealous of him because he was getting to know other people in the block. His mental health has deteriorated since he moved to the apartment, he added, and he was prescribed antidepressants last year.
He added he doesn't feel Caridon are resolving the issue and that they are not taking it seriously, saying that he doesn't think they look after the residents and all they care about is money.
"They [Caridon] won't do anything about it, all they tell me is to call the police and the police are doing nothing," he added. "I am trying to get a solicitor as I am trying to get the council to move me.
"I have lost a lot of weight and I am not eating or sleeping properly. This is taking a massive toll on me. I feel so isolated and I have dropped out of college because I can not concentrate here. I am scared to go out and I feel very shallow.
"I do not feel like doing anything and I do not feel safe at all here. I used to talk to a lot of people when I first moved here, but I don't talk to anyone now - I just keep to myself. I feel trapped, desperate, ignored and lifeless. I feel helpless because no one is helping me, I was left with no other option but to go to the media. I have been shut away here for so long and it is affecting me massively."
In a statement, Caridon said: "The tenant in question has never reported having a disability to Caridon, but if his circumstances have changed we are happy to discuss his requirements with him directly. Regarding the events detailed, some of which were reported and others were not, CCTV disproves the allegations.
"Police did visit the tenant on his request on June 10 and said no further action would be taken. We have encouraged the tenant to contact our security team as and when he has a noise complaint so it can be investigated immediately at the time of the offence.”
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: "Two reports by one individual of being assaulted at Imperial Apartments in February and March this year have been investigated by police.
"In each case a different named suspect was interviewed and made a counter-allegation, claiming self-defence.
CCTV evidence was reviewed as part of the police investigations. In the February incident, this supported the account of the accused person. CCTV also showed the individual was mistaken in believing the accused person to be responsible for the theft of a parcel.
"In the March incident no CCTV or independent witness was available to support either party's account. Proportionate lines of enquiry were carried out but from the available evidence there was no realistic prospect of conviction. There was no further police action in either case. More recent calls have related to noise nuisance, which are a matter for the council and housing provider.
"We can find no record of the individual reporting incidents motivated by hate. He has been supported by voluntary agencies."
