Homeless couple forced to live in their car getting lives back on track thanks to kind businessman

Hard times: Couple Philip and Victoria Sherlock were living in a car on an industrial estate after a run of bad luck saw them fall on hard times

A homeless couple forced to live in their car after pay-day loan debts spiralled out of control are getting their lives back on track - thanks to a caring businessman.

Philip and Victoria Sherlock have been living out of their car for three months, after a stomach operation meant Philip could no longer work as a £400 a week gardener.

Their loss of income saw Victoria take on more hours as a shop assistant, but the desperate couple then had their benefits cut.

And having no choice but to sell furniture and take out pay-day loans, Philip and Victoria were eventually forced to leave their home and live in their Ford Focus in Warrington to be closer to Victoria’s job.


And driving to various supermarkets and public toilets to wash and brush their teeth before Victoria went to work, and Philip went to the job centre, became the norm each morning.

But thanks to the kindness of Jason Jackiuw, a Manchester business owner who heard about the heartbreaking story on a TV programme, Philip, 42, has been thrown a lifeline, reports the Manchester Evening News.

He has now started work as a stock manager at Jason’s firm Prymo, a specialist re-surfacing company based in Sale.

Managing director Jasen Jackiw, 30, said: “I saw Philip was getting a lot of hate from some people saying he was just lazy, and I thought well I’ll give him a job if he really wants one. He started two weeks ago and he’s just been brilliant.”
And Philip, who has been desperately looking for work for months, is proving to be a much-needed asset to the company.

Jasen added: “He runs all the warehouse and stock now, and does a bit of the maintenance stuff too, and we have never been so organised there as we are now.

“And he even goes out marketing for us too. He’s been absolutely fantastic, and I’ve already said to him, ‘right you’re going nowhere.’"

When Jasen heard about Philip’s plight, he knew he had to do something to help the desperate pair, and after being given a helping hand to set up his own business a few years ago, Jasen knows more than anyone when someone needs a chance.
 
He added: “All I saw was somebody who was desperate to get into work, and we needed somebody to manage the stock so it made sense.

“I was given an opportunity to start my business and I knew he needed an opportunity to get back on his feet. We did say to him that if he struggled with the job then we might not be able to keep him on, but he’s grabbed it with both hands and hit the ground running.”

Philip couldn’t believe it when the offer of a job came through, and although the couple still spend some nights living in their van, whenever they can afford it they treat themselves to a bed in a hotel - and hope to get their own flat in the future.

Philip added: “We were fighting for months to keep a roof over our head, but in January we couldn’t fight any more.

“Whenever we can afford it we’ll get a hotel, but Jasen gave us a van because we had to get rid of our car, so we sleep in there too.”
And the ex-gardener is now loving his new job managing the stock for Prymo.

Philip, 42, added: “Jasen saw what I was going through, and it’s heart-warming that there are people out there who will do this for a total stranger and I’m really enjoying the job. I’m a bit older than most of the people there so I try to make a difference.”


Credit: Daily Mirror