Disabled Blackpool man menaced by wasps that 'crawl on his face and sting him' as he sleeps

Disabled Robert Priestley, 65, has been plagued by wasps swarming in his sheltered accommodation. As he cannot get out of bed without help, he says he has been forced to endure the winged pests crawling on and stinging him every night.
Robert Priestley, 65, says he has been plagued by wasps for weeksRobert Priestley, 65, says he has been plagued by wasps for weeks
Robert Priestley, 65, says he has been plagued by wasps for weeks

Mr Priestley says the wasps have been gathering in his flat at Tulloch Court, Cherry Tree Road, Blackpool, since August, causing him stress and terrible sleepless nights.

"As many as 30 wasps each night fall out of the centre light fitting over my bed. I've had them crawling on my face, chest and arms and have been badly stung on a number of occasions," he said.

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"To make matters worse, I'm immobile when put to bed at night by my carers, and can't move until morning. I don't always know there are wasps in my bed until it's too late."

Some of the wasps found in Mr Priestley's flatSome of the wasps found in Mr Priestley's flat
Some of the wasps found in Mr Priestley's flat

Mr Priestley, a retired landlord, is an amputee and needs to be placed in his wheelchair by his carers each morning. As a result, he is unable to get up and swat the wasps when they bother him.

He says his nurse and care team have complained to Great Places housing group, which oversees Tulloch Court - but the wasps remain.

A spokesman for Great Places said: "(We) instructed Pest Guard to check for a colony, nest, or any wasps at Tulloch Court. Pest Guard attended and did a walk-through of the building to see if there was any wasp activity present. During the walk, he looked for wasps entering and exiting a colony via air vents and gaps between brickwork and sheet cladding. He could not see any evidence of a colony, nest or flying wasps outside of the building.

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"Despite not finding any present, Pest Guard provided Mr Priestly with advice on how to prevent wasps from entering his flat should Mr Priestly experience any issues. This included purchasing a mesh, closing windows and getting a fly zapper."

Mr Priestley said: "Great Places' opinion is formed on a five-minute cursory examination by a so-called professional who didn't even take the light fitting down to examine it. His advice was to keep the windows closed. When told that the wasps were coming from inside the room, he poo-pooed the idea.

"For over seven weeks now I have been unable to sleep more than a couple of hours a night - sometimes not even that. My health is deteriorating to such an extent that I really don't want to be a tenant any more.

"If I could walk, I would be out of here tomorrow."

Great Places said a caretaker later attended the flat to re-seal the light fitting, and that both an electrician and pest control would take another look at the flat.

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