Woman and toddler fleeing abuse in Reading flat with bed bugs

The victim's two-year-old grandchild has been left with swollen red bites over his body and face. 

His grandmother, who has requested to remain anonymous, said while she was grateful for the emergency accommodation, she was forced to throw away four bags of clothes that shrunk in the high temperature washes needed to kill the bugs.

Shocking photographs shared with this newspaper show the vermin crawling over the furniture

While other images show the young toddler, who lives with cerebal palsy, covered in painful red lumps.

Speaking to the Chronicle about the situation, she said: "We are starting to feel depressed now, having to live like this.

“We’re here for a reason. I didn’t ask to be here. I’ve had to leave my home because of my husband."

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Bed bugs in the seems of material in her flat

She continued: “Show a bit of consideration when someone’s moved out of their own home and come to this place, show them that they do actually care." 

“I don’t care what they’re doing to me, it’s my grandson.”

She complained after the bites began on January 7 and the housing provider treated the flat on January 11 as phase one of a two phase treatment.

After having to bin Christmas gifts given to her grandson, she said she wanted compensation from Reading council, who placed her in the private accommodation.

The council does not own or manage the property. Under the current system, families or people that need to be housed are placed in private, temporary accomodation by the council while they look for a permanent solution. 

A bed bug found inside the property

The private housing providor is responsible for the management of the property.

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A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said they are working with the woman to secure alternative accommodation in Reading but they cannot do so until they are sure the bedbugs won’t be carried with her and her family.

Bites left on the toddler's arm

They said: “We were notified on January 10 that the there was an issue with bedbugs in the emergency self-contained accommodation in which she was placed, which is not owned or managed by Reading Borough Council.

“The following day the housing provider had the property professionally treated as the first phase of a two phase course of treatment, and we were advised that new mattresses and fresh bedding had been provided to the family.

“Unfortunately we have had to advise the woman that she needs to remain at the property while the two phases of treatment are actioned as it is likely that if she moved the bed bugs would move with her."