Trans woman harassed for years by youths
A trans woman from Staines who has been harassed by youths for two years has complained her housing authority will not let her move away from her persecutors.
Rachel Maton, 54, of Holbrook Meadow, Pooley Green, moved into her home two years ago. Since then, she has suffered verbal abuse in the street and has had her home pelted with rocks and eggs.
She told the Staines News that after the first year of abuse, she approached Runnymede council to get a transfer, which she hoped would be on the south coast or in Wiltshire, areas which she is familiar with.
But after filling in all the forms, she was told she could only transfer to another home in the borough.
Maton said: “The council offered me a one-bedroom flat in Chertsey, but this is a two-bedroom house with a garden, it’s not a like for like and I don’t want to live in Chertsey, it’s too close.”
She has had her home fitted with three CCTV cameras to track the harassment but claims it has continued despite police monitoring although Surrey Police said that the problems have markedly decreased.
Director of housing and community services at Runnymede council, Deborah Blowers, said: “We are aware of the case and have offered some help but this was not taken up. We will continue to assist as far as we can but the client also needs to be flexible about where they will move to.”
Maton has now been advised b the council that a reciprocal move to another housing authority may be possible.
