A father living in a house for ex-offenders has spoken out against a campaign to evict people like him from Battersea’s Nappy Valley.

Solomon Smith, 29, said he was trying to rebuild his life, but now felt uncomfortable and unwelcome in his own neighbourhood.

Last week residents called for the house, run by Nacro Services, to be closed after another tenant was arrested during a robbery.

Mr Smith said: “Not everyone in the house is committing crimes. We are basically fathers and mothers like them.

“You can’t put everyone in the same basket.

“Condemning people who haven’t done anything is like sending an innocent person to jail.”

Police raided the house on September 29, and chased four suspected robbers through homes and gardens – prompting residents to fear for their children’s safety.

Three of the men, who have since been charged with conspiracy to rob, were only visiting the house.

Mr Smith and his fellow tenants were not involved, but feel they are being tarred with the same brush.

The college graduate spent three months in Wandsworth Prison for a minor offence, but is now hoping to work for South West Trains.

His seven-month-old son, Tyereall, regularly comes to the house to visit.

Wandsworth Nacro Services insisted there was no danger as only low-risk tenants were housed there.

Team manager Rose-Marie Smith said: “It was a one-off incident.

“Most of our service-users are hard working individuals.

“We need to be able to rehabilitate users back into the community.

“They need to be able to live in a community which is forward-thinking and progressive.”

Mr Smith plans to meet residents at their next meeting.

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