A PENSIONER trapped in his home had to be rescued with a screwdriver after a council worker broke his front door.
Andy Eastwood, who lives in St Peter’s, was forced to pay out £145 when a council worker slammed his front door and broke the lock.
The pensioner said he has been chasing the council for over a month for a refund of the bill.
The council worker had arrived on May 27 to help him get dressed and into his wheelchair.
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“She went out, not in a temper, and slammed the door shut,” he said.
“The lock was down – the door was slammed again, and it was about 30 minutes later when I needed to get some food, when I saw the door and it was jammed shut.
“My neighbour came from across the road with a screwdriver and had to heave and grunt it open.
UPSET: A screwdriver was needed to break Mr Eastwood out of his home in St Peter’s. (Image: Newsquest)
“[The lock] then fell apart.”
Worcestershire County Council admitted fault and said it would pay for the damage.
But a month on, Mr Eastwood was still awaiting his payment.
He claimed that Worcestershire County Council admitted to losing his bank information.
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He added: “If it was a small sum, I would have just said give it to charity, but it is not a small amount.
“[The council] have just gone round and round in circles.”
Mr Eastwood admitted that one of his first concerns was how he would keep his house secure after his lock was broken.
“My first reaction after realising the door was smashed – and bits of it were on the floor from the lock – was to push my frame up against it so no one could get in,” he said.
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“I was trying to safeguard myself.”
It led the homeowner to pay for a locksmith out of his own pocket instead of waiting for the council to replace the lock.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “The payment to Mr Eastwood has been processed and he should receive this next week.
“We apologise for the delay.”
