'You've let my brother down'

Ferrol Steele has been homeless for more than a year and has lived rough in a ditch under a bush opposite a row of houses in Sandy Lane, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, for nine months.

His sister, Sedrene Steele, who lives nearby in Sandy Lane, said her family had been asking for the 45-year-old to be treated for mental illness for the last 12 months, but no-one had listened.

Ms Steele said: "We feel we've been really let down as a family. They need to know they cannot treat people like this. Everywhere we turn for help, we're getting no support."

She said his family had held meetings with mental health authorities, the city council, doctors at Leys health centre and even contacted Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

Ms Steele added: "I can't see anyone changing their mind until something drastic happens. When Ferrol commits a crime or someone commits a crime towards Ferrol, only then will they intervene.

"What are they going to do about Ferrol now? Are they just going to wash their hands of him and leave him to die on the streets?"

She said Mr Steele was evicted from a flat after squatters burned it down and after spending time in hospital, he had been homeless since the end of 2005. She said the family had tried to provide accommodation for him, but it proved unworkable.

Last month, residents contacted the Oxford Mail pleading for him to be helped. They were also concerned because he rifled through rubbish and sang in the street at night.

Ms Steele added: "We're also very worried about Ferrol. He can't live in a normal household. He's chaotic, unstable and cannot function in a normal way.

"He needs looking after properly until he can come back into the community. I understand residents down there are worried about him, but he is not dangerous."

The NHS mental health trust said it could not comment on individual cases.

A city council spokesman said: "If individuals refuse to accept the services we offer, then we cannot compel them to do so."