Tony Hickmott was sectioned in 2001 and moved away from his home in Brighton. The man, who has autism, was held in a secure hospital and treated like an animal.
A whistleblower last year said that Tony Hickmott was the loneliest man in the hospital, but after a bruising court battle, he’s now expected to be reunited with his family from November 1.
A cheese roll and half a pint. These are the simple delights awaiting Tony Hickmott when he’s discharged from his secure Assessment and Treatment Unit after more than two decades next month.
Spending Christmas and birthdays in his family home, changing the channel on his own television and making a cup of tea for his dear mother are among the other freedoms he will shortly be on the receiving end of.
His new life will be a far cry from the conditions he’s endured at his secure hospital, where a whistleblower last year described the 45-year-old as the loneliest man there, and likened him to an animal because his only basic needs were fulfilled.
Tony Hickmott, now 45, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act as a young man in 2001 and transferred from his parent’s home in Brighton, East Sussex to a secure hospital more than two hours away.
The hospital, which is more than 100 miles away, hasn’t been named to protect his care and well-being.
Carers at the secure unit said he was left marooned in a locked room almost 24 hours a day in the hospital facility, enjoyed little freedom and spent all of his time in solitary confinement.
Tony Hickmott, who has autism, has been at the epicentre of a frenzied battle between his parents, MPs and campaigners and the local authorities to find him a safe and suitable home in Brighton since he was declared fit for release in 2013.
Tony Hickmott’s elderly parents have courageously fronted the struggle to get their son rehomed in the community, and he’s now expected to return to his hometown for the first time in 20 years in November.
Pamela, Mr Hickmott’s 78-year-old mother, conveyed her joy at the news that her son would finally be coming home after more than two decades.
She said that he was coming home and that she couldn’t believe it. That it would be a real home, and that they will have him back and that every day would be a bonus.
This is horrendous what’s happened to Tony, yet I bet nothing will happen to those people responsible.
This poor man has been locked up for no crime for half of his life. So, where is his compensation? I think it’s about time these authorities were sued because what they did to this poor man was cruel, and I truly hope that he enjoys his new life. There needs to be a review of social care, it’s a broken-down system and it’s a disgrace.
This is truly shocking and it shows just how damaged both the NHS and Social Care system actually is.
Margaret Thatcher sold off state care that was run like a normal hospital and replaced it with care in the community, and now there’s no accountability or inspections done, and also the Mental Health funding is so small it’s virtually non-existent, and it makes you actually wonder how much negligence really goes on behind closed doors, and as a country, we’ve become a disgrace, but then it’s all about money and Brighton Council Services should hold their heads in shame!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 