Cash help for boy who lived in burnt-out hotel

An unsigned Christmas card addressed "urgent" was put through the Observer's door overnight last Thursday.

Inside were five 10 notes.

The card read: "Please would you be kind enough to forward the enclosed 50 to the young homeless lad featured on the front cover of last week's Bexhill Observer.

"I am still thinking about him a week after reading the story.

"I'm not sure how else I can get this money to him, so I am hoping you will be able to help.

"If you are truly unable to get this money to him, then please donate it to any young homeless (local) group, but I would really like the lad to have something."

The Observer took the card and cash immediately to Bexhill police station where Sergeant Dan Boxall made a note of the gift and undertook to pass it to the youth.

He said: "He is in a young people's hostel. I will be seeing him this afternoon and will give it to him. It will make a pleasant change for him.

"He usually associates a visit from us with bad news..."

The fact that the boy had been living in the ruin came to light when he appeared before a court at Hastings. Prosecutor Peter Boswell told the court the boy had been expelled from a children's home for inviting a friend back to his room.

"Short of starving to death, this young man has no options left.

"He breaks into cars and steals things because he has no other way of living."

The court released the youth on bail, one of the conditions of which was the he should contact Sheltered Housing Action for Hastings (SHAH).