A concise metaphor for two generations of escalating illegal immigration…
With the building works nearly over, Julian and Samantha Mosedaleand their three children were looking forward to moving back into thehome of their dreams.
But their hopes have turned into a nightmare because a group of Romanians (gypsies) occupied the property over Christmas.
To add insult to injury, police told them that they were being’racist’ for questioning the squatters’ right to live in Britain onbenefits.
The unwanted guests have changed the locks at the three-bedroom terrace house and moved in their own furniture.
Mr Mosedale, an illustrator, and his wife, a catalogue manager,both 45, had moved out of the house in Tottenham, North London, in July2007 for extensive structural and renovation work.
They rented another property and regularly visited the £285,000 house to oversee progress.
But, after spending Christmas visiting relatives in Essex, theyreturned to the house on January 3 to find the squatters installed.
Theynow fear they could soon be homeless because they can only afford tofoot the cost of rent and mortgage payments until March.
Mrs Mosedale, whose three sons are ten, eight, and five, said:’We called the police as soon as we found out they were in there. Anofficer suggested I was racist when I asked if they were Romanians, anddid they have a legal right to be in this country.
Squatter ‘Daniel’ leaves the Mosedales’ house in Tottenham after taking over during Christmas