Watford residents who raise money for military charities and signed petition to help a homeless Garston man say it was 'disgustingly misused'

Watford Borough Council do not consider Steve McMahon and his dog Lionel a rehoming priority partly because of his occasional charity work, as detailed in the petition by residents handed to the mayor.

Active members of the charities say they are “shocked and appalled” that references to Steve’s help, including his involvement with collections and annual attendance at the poppy fund dog walk, were taken as evidence he was fit enough to sleep rough and “sofa surf” as he has been doing for the past nine months.

Sue Sawyer, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, said: “We were disgusted that the petition we signed had been used against him, the way that the goodwill of all those who wanted to support Steve had been twisted.

“We were also extremely angry and upset that the fact that Steve supports the Annual Dog Walk we and the Harrisons arrange each year in memory of our sons, Tom and Chris, who were both killed in Afghanistan, and to support the Royal British Legion, was used to his detriment.

“His support means a great deal to us, as does the support of everyone who attends. It upset us tremendously to think that Steve was being punished in some way for showing such respect to those who have given their lives for this country.

“And to also use the fact that Steve will do what he can to keep the local park clean is farcical. What has it come to when someone is actually penalised for trying to give something back to the community.”

She added the review of Steve’s housing situation was “flippant, arrogant, and at times downright ridiculous and I am astounded that the council were prepared to accept it”.

She said: “For someone who has worked and paid his taxes since he left school until an industrial injury forced him to give up, who is in constant pain and on numerous medications, but is still prepared to try and do what he can for others, to be told he isn’t vulnerable because he slept in his car without being attacked, to be told he must have friends who can help him because people signed a petition is simply unacceptable.

“We sincerely hope that there will be a rethink on Steve's position because to be quite honest the Review was an affront to most right minded decent people.”

In a letter voicing his and the group’s disappointment to Mayor Thornhill, Martin Harrison said they objected to the misuse of the petition not its inclusion in the review of Steve’s housing situation.

He requested a meeting with the mayor to clarify why the petition was used selectively, distorted and misinterpreted in the review into Steve’s case last month.