A SINGLE mum has told how she was forced out of her home and had to camp on the beach with her three children after she turned police informer.

Sam Chappell, 22, alerted officers to suspected drug dealers in her community and claims she has since been subjected to a campaign of threats and vandalism.

Miss Chappell moved out of the Swaythling Housing Society property in Southampton in July, fearing for her family’s safety.

Since leaving the house in Ashurst Close, Weston, Miss Chappell says she has repeatedly contacted the housing association and Southampton City Council, but it was only after the Daily Echo intervened that she was provided with emergency accommodation.

She stayed temporarily in a council-provided bed and breakfast accommodation over the weekend, but had previously been moving between the homes of family and friends, including relatives of her former partner Jason Collis, 33, from whom she has recently separated.

Several times she claims she has had nowhere to sleep other than in a tent along the coastline at Netley slipway, Weston Shore and Marchwood with her three children Sharlene, 5, Jay, 3 and Shakira, 2.

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On Friday, Miss Chappell, who is three-and-a-half months pregnant, returned to the house for the first time since July. She says it had been ransacked and her belongings stolen.

Recalling the attacks on her former home, she said: “The toilet window was the first thing smashed, then they smashed all three front room windows and put the front door through.”

When the attacks were at their worst, Miss Chappell suffered a miscarriage, which midwives and doctors have told her was partly due to the stress she was under.

She said: “When we had to stay on the beach, I just didn’t sleep at all. For the past few months, I’ve never known where I’m sleeping until night comes.

“My little girl would ask me, ‘Mummy where are we staying tonight?’ and I’d have to tell her I didn’t know yet.”

Mark Wilkin, a spokesman for Radian, which owns Swaythling Housing Society, said: “We requested for the family to be rehoused back in July and have been working on it with Southampton City Council ever since.

“Of course, any amount of time where children are left homeless is unacceptable, but I believe we responded promptly to the request.

“We have also taken action to address the antisocial behaviour which caused the problem in the first place and we’re working with the police on this.”

Southampton City Council insists it has been doing everything it can to ensure Miss Chappell and her family have somewhere to live.

Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet member for housing, told the Daily Echo: “We have stepped in and are providing bed and breakfast accommodation for the family in the short term as an immediate stop gap. The council has acted swiftly and effectively and we have also outlined all the options available to the family and we will continue to do all we can to find the best possible outcome. In all cases the safeguarding of children is our priority.”

A homelessness charity said Miss Chappell and her children could be in this situation because, in the view of the authorities, they left their home voluntarily.

Gill Perkins, from Homeless Link, the national umbrella agency for frontline homelessness charities, said: “There is anecdotal evidence from across the country that some housing officers are a bit too ready to find someone intentionally homeless, which may be the case here.

“It’s our view that in 21st century Britain no one should be without access to emergency accommodation, particularly where children are involved.”

Sergeant Moray Anderson, who leads the West Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “Hampshire Constabulary takes all reports of antisocial behaviour extremely seriously and investigate them. I can confirm that police are investigating an incident that took place earlier today in Ashurst Close, following up lines of inquiry.

“We are happy to meet with Miss Chappell again to discuss any issues and offer appropriate help and advice.

“Police also confirmed that antisocial behaviour had been reported by residents in the area and it was a specific priority in the Ashurst Close area.