A homeless dad who has spent 10 weeks sleeping in his car and faces spending Christmas alone has admitted he 'cries every night'.
Shane Blackwell, 39, who is a former chef, is originally from London but is now based in the West Midlands. He has no friends or family in the area and has been forced to use his car as a home.
In an ideal world, he would be spending Christmas Day with his five-year-old son Casey, but it's not going to happen this year.
And on Christmas Day, while families enjoy festive time together, he will be parked at the side of the road and hoping for any meal he can get his hands on, Birmingham Live reported.
Shane suffers from PTSD and gave up work. Due to his lack of support in the local area, he has found himself at his lowest ebb - but admits he doesn't want to be a burden on people having to put him up over Christmas.
He's now trying to make his next step - but admits sleeping in his car has been tough. Shane said: “It's a bit horrible. I can't lie down in it. If I was to sleep I'd be sitting up but I do struggle to sleep quite a lot. I've been getting sleeping tablets but they've not really been helping.
"I've managed to survive in -7C, which is the coldest it's been, I'm still okay, I'm not ill which is surprising.
“I've kept the car running as much as possible but I don't know how much longer I can do it. I'm going to be there on Christmas, there's no choice about it.
"This Christmas is gonna be really weird. Normally I would have my son but because of the situation I can't have him so it's gonna be a really rubbish day."
Shane has been receiving aid from a food bank so has been able to eat while he sleeps in his car.
He added: "I'm speaking to the council, trying to get some benefits.
"I don't get any benefits and if I do it's not gonna be until January 18. I'm not classed as a priority, no matter what council I go to. When I got some money from work I spent it on some bits for the car and putting fuel in and that's all I could afford.
"I've just signed up for Universal Credit . I've got friends who want to help me but I'm too proud of myself.
"They have families, I don't want to be part of them thinking 'oh my god, we've got to have him here' and all of that, even though they probably wouldn't think that. But that's my way of thinking.
"I've got my space in my car and that's how it'll be until I can get some help."
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