Emma told the ECHO it feels ‘like we are stuck’ after she said a neighbour has ‘turn our life into a misery’
08:26, 22 Feb 2026Updated 08:26, 22 Feb 2026
Emma Mitchison said she feels stuck at her home in Birkenhead(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A Merseyside mum says her disabled daughter is being targeted by a nightmare neighbour. Emma Mitchison, is mum to 25-year-old Chloe who is autistic. Emma told the ECHO how she and her daughter have faced abuse and harassment at the hands of a neighbour.
The single mum, who currently lives in Tranmere, Birkenhead, said this person had used offensive slurs referring to her daughter’s disability on multiple occasions, which the ECHO has chosen not to repeat. Merseyside Police said there was no evidence crimes have been committed but they are providing support.
The ECHO also approached the neighbours to get their side of the story but received no response as of publication.
The issue started, Emma said, after the person noticed a Ring door bell camera on her door and posted a letter. Since then, Emma said she and her daughter have been consistently targeted and have reported the issues to both her landlord and Merseyside Police.
Emma Mitchison said the situation had had a serious impact on her and her daughter Chloe(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Emma said the person has been warned but ‘has continued to intimidate and harass and turn our life into a misery’. She added: “She calls me names when I go out to the car and to the shops, listening to very loud music to wind me up all the time.
“People say just ignore her but when you hear what she said to your own flesh and blood, it’s very hard to ignore.
“It’s been frustrating and it’s affected my mental health. We are struggling to live here truly. My daughter won’t even leave the house due to the area we are in. It just won’t happen. She is scared.
“I am a single mum trying to hold it all together. It’s very tiring and stressful trying to keep her safe.”
The mum said they want to move but have struggled in their current situation. While they had been offered another place to move to, she felt it was less safe than their current home.
She told the ECHO: “I feel like we are stuck. We want to move on but there’s just nowhere to move to. That is the only way out of this situation.”
Emma said she felt isolated(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Emma said: “I have had to start taking medication for it now. You feel you are existing. You are not moving forward in life. It’s hard and we are isolated because all of our friends and family are Greasby way. It’s very isolating here.”
A Family Housing Association spokesperson said: “Family Housing Association believes that the latest hate crime allegations are still being investigated by Merseyside Police and so we must take great care not to impede their investigation.
“Whilst it would not be appropriate for Family Housing Association to comment publicly on the individuals concerned or the allegations made, we can confirm that we work closely with any tenant that reports anti-social behaviour and we have investigated every incident reported in this case.
“We take allegations of hate crime extremely seriously and work to support victims, gathering evidence and challenging perpetrators. Hate crime is a criminal offence and Merseyside Police lead on these investigations and determine whether criminal charges can be brought.
“If there was a conviction for hate crime, this could be used as evidence in future tenancy enforcement proceedings, such as for possession or an injunction. Family Housing Association challenges those responsible for anti-social behaviour and where there are serious incidents, we forward the evidence available to our solicitors for expert advice on the appropriate legal action to be taken.
“In this case, Family Housing Association Officers have visited both parties on many occasions and carried out joint visits with Merseyside Police. We’ve logged every incident reported as evidence and referred the victim to the Hate Crime Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) where representatives from police, health, child protection and housing meet to create safety plans for those at high risk.
“Family Housing Association have arranged for Daisy UK, a charity that provides support to disabled or vulnerable families, to contact our tenant to provide support.
“We’ve contacted social services to provide support to those concerned. We’ve contacted the tenant’s GP to ensure they are aware of this situation so that they can provide appropriate support. We’ve liaised with Wirral Council’s housing options team to try to assist them in a transfer back to an area where they have a support network.
“Unfortunately, Family Housing Association as a small housing provider does not own any properties in the tenant’s area of preference, although we have offered a transfer to another property in a different location in Birkenhead with gardens and off-road parking, which the tenant declined.
“We’ve issued a formal warning to the perpetrator. Family Housing Association has also forwarded details from the latest incident to our solicitor and will follow their expert advice on appropriate actions when it is received.
“Family Housing Association is fully committed and determined to resolve this situation.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have received reports of a dispute between two neighbours on a Tranmere estate.
“Each reported incident has been investigated to which there was no evidence that an offence or criminal act had been committed, and advice was given to both parties. We have liaised with the housing association and referred the resident to partner agencies to receive support.”
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “While we sympathise with the behaviour Emma has described, both her and her neighbour are tenants of Family Housing Association who, like all social landlords, have a responsibility to manage anti-social behaviour reported by their tenants and take appropriate action.”