Broken Britain - Police refuse to help....
Woman in her 80s returned home to find 'Eastern Europeans' had moved into her house... and police say they can't help
A gang of suspected foreign criminals seized the home of a frail pensioner while she was visiting her 'lonely' 102-year-old friend, sparking an 'absurd' two-month legal battle to try and remove them.
Shameless squatters allegedly broke into the elderly woman's £590,000 terraced property in Chingford, north-east London, at the end of April and have refused to leave.
The retired woman, who is believed to be in her 80s and living alone, is thought to have been 'deliberately targeted' by an organised crime group from Eastern Europe
She has been left effectively homeless as a result and is understood to have suffered a serious health condition following her nightmare ordeal.
However, despite her home now being in the hands of strangers, the Metropolitan Police has refused to take action to remove the group, claiming the matter is a civil offence and not a criminal one.
And those now allegedly holding the pensioner's property ransom have defiantly said; 'it's all fine' and 'nothing is happening' - before refusing to say when or if they would be leaving.
The fiasco has sparked outrage among neighbours, with one 63-year-old fuming: 'They're taking the p***.
This elderly woman has worked so hard for this country and paid her taxes and now this has happened... It's f***ing outrageous.'
Among those seen leaving the home was a woman and a number of children. It's unclear if they are among those now allegedly living in the building
'This whole thing is organised - it's an organised crime... [but] trying to get police to take action on this is completely astonishing.'
When journalists visited the quiet suburban street, a number of families were seen coming in and out of the three-bed terraced house.
One was driving an untaxed, grey Mercedes C class. Others appeared to be driving a luxury BMW X5.
The group was also accompanied by at least three young children.
It's unclear whether those spotted entering and leaving the home are among the alleged squatters.
Locals claimed to have seen dozens of people visiting the property in recent weeks - while others alleged that human faeces had been smeared on neighbouring homes.
The elderly homeowner, thought to be a widowed mother, is now understood to be living with family in the West Country, after having suffered a serious health condition.