A MUM from Berkeley has hit out after an anonymous neighbour posted a “threatening” letter through her door complaining about her autistic three-year-old son.

Yesterday Jessica Green found a letter posted through her door complaining about Henry’s “continuous screaming” and warning that they would make a complaint to Stroud District Council.

Henry is nonverbal and autistic and uses high-pitched noises to express his feelings.

The letter, written by “the residents and neighbours in the local area”, addressed to “the parent responsible for the screechy, screaming child in Fishers Road” advises that residents are “sick to death” of hearing his screams and that unless action is taken “a group of us will be talking to tenant services at Stroud Council” and complaining.

In response to the letter Henry’s mum Jessica has criticised the “selfish” complainers.

In a letter directed to the author of the original correspondence, she said: “Firstly, the “it” you are referring to is my three-year-old son Henry who has autism and he is non-verbal.

“He uses high pitch noises to express himself and how he is feeling; be this happy, excited or sad.

“It seems that even with the ever-increasing knowledge, awareness and diagnosis of all disabilities, including autism, that some people still seem to remain so ignorant in regards to their fellow human beings.

“Your letter shows a selfish, narrow minded and uneducated view on what is my son enjoying a couple of hours (well supervised) outside in our garden.

“As far as I am concerned, every person has a right to a voice and to be heard, and for Henry he has his own unique way of doing this.”

Since sharing the letter, which also suggests concerns about neglect, on Facebook, she has had an outpouring of support from neighbours in her street and from hundreds of people in the wider community.

Jessica added: “In regards to your concern about my parenting capacity and your concerns of neglect, and your threat of involving social services, I would like to wholly reassure you that both Henry and my daughter Halle (who is not autistic) couldn’t be more loved and cared for and catered to in every single way.

“It is unfortunate that as my neighbour, you deemed it more appropriate to write an anonymous letter to me, rather than approaching me directly to discuss the matter like a human being.

“I would have been more than happy to discuss Henry, and what autism means in regards to him and my family.

“As a family trying to do our best by our children, receiving such a vicious and blinkered letter was both hurtful and it’s worse still that it was written by my “neighbours.” 

“I have taken the letter as it was intended, as a form of bullying and of a threatening nature.

“Around 700,000 people in the UK are living with autism, which translates to around one in 100 people.

“Autistic people may not ‘look’ disabled and many people may think that a child with autism is being naughty.

“Whilst your letter has been hurtful, it has given me a platform to raise awareness for the condition.

“Please take this letter as it is intended; to raise awareness and promote understanding and acceptance of people that are different to ourselves.”