A WIDOW has hit out after council officials “pestered” her for money as her husband lay dying after a house fire in Rose Hill.

Father-of-three Michael Davies, 64, died at the John Radcliffe Hospital two days after a fire broke out in the living room of the family’s council home in Spencer Crescent two weeks ago.

As he battled the effects of smoke inhalation, widow Sandra, 55, claims she was contacted by Oxford City Council and told repairs to the home would cost £1,500. She added she was told she would need to pay the money back, even if it meant paying £3 a week for the foreseeable future.

She said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I was completely shocked.

“They knew my husband was dying in hospital and all they could think about was telling me how much it would cost me to put the damage right.”

The fire is believed to have started from a cigarette in Mr Davies’s bedroom on August 8. His son Wayne, 29, smashed a window to get into the house and drag his father to safety.

Oxford City Council denied the officer knew about Mr Davies’ condition at the time of the visit.

A spokeswoman said: “With regard to Mrs Davies being given repair information, our repairs policy clearly advises of instances where charges are applicable. This issue falls within that category.”

She added the council had offered Mrs Davies alternative accommodation while repairs were being carried out at her home, but she had decided to stay with family.

It has been a tragic year for Mrs Davies, who lost her husband on the day of their 35th wedding anniversary.

A year ago her brother, David Cox, died after he was attacked by a group of men. Father-of-six Mr Cox, 56, of Asquith Road, Rose Hill, died after a single punch triggered a fatal haemorrhage last June.

Jonathan Newton, 18, then of Spencer Crescent, was jailed for three years at Oxford Crown Court in March after admitting the manslaughter of Mr Cox.

Mrs Davies was a full-time carer for her husband, who had Hodgkin’s disease, and cares for her mentally disabled son Darren.

She is on income support.

She said: “I feel shaken by it all.

“We are all absolutely devastated by what has happened.”

Regarding the cost of the repairs, she said: “This is the last thing I needed.”

Oxford City Council said: “Our sympathies are with Mrs Davies.

“We were not acting insensitively, but carrying out our responsibility to remind tenants of the terms of the policy so that they can pass on details to their insurers.”