Homeless family who moved hotels after alleged assault say new accommodation has 'unbearable smell' as insects filmed crawling around beds
16.05.2023 - 18:47
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
An asylum seeker who went on hunger strike after allegations that he was assaulted at a Stockport hotel where his family was housed has been moved. However, arriving at the new accommodation in Rochdale on Friday (May 5), Shay Babagar, his wife and daughter claimed to have found insects crawling around their bed. They are allegations which are denied by Serco, who managed the hotel.
Video footage taken by the family appears to show two bugs on the bed while Shay's wife - who wishes not to be named - speaks of seeing mosquitoes. Serco, which runs both hotels, claims that the family has not reported finding insects on the bed to staff on site or through independent complaints routes.
The company, which runs asylum accommodation across the North West, denied the allegation claiming staff checked the room when it was approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The team said no evidence of insects was identified.
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It comes after months of 'sofa surfing' for the family who say they were left 'homeless' after leaving the asylum seeker hotel in Stockport in November. Last month, protesters stormed Stockport council offices demanding that they are housed immediately. The family were offered alternative accommodation, but initially refused to return to a hotel run by Serco.
Since then, Shay and his wife have appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court where allegations that they refused to leave Stepping Hill Hospital when asked to by NHS staff were put to them. The couple pleaded not guilty to the offence which saw them arrested following the hunger strike and a trial date has been set in December.
Shay says he is happier in the Rochdale hotel saying, so
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