• Bailiffs have been trying to evict Tom Crawford, 63, for six months 
• They claim he owes £43,000 in outstanding mortgage repayments
• 500 strangers provided a human blockade around his bungalow
• Bailiffs were forced to retreat by the strength of people power 
• Mr Crawford has said he would 'rather die' than leave his home 

 
By Nazia Parveen for the Daily Mail 

Published: 14:29 GMT, 23 January 2015 | Updated: 00:28 GMT, 24 January 2015

The bailiffs didn’t stand a chance. By the time they arrived to turf cancer patient Tom Crawford out of his home yesterday a crowd of some 500 had gathered to block their way.

For a few minutes there was a stand-off between the crowd and the burly men inside a white van and a black car.

And then, with cheers ringing in their ears, the bailiffs backed off.



People power: 500 strangers turn up at the home of cancer-stricken Tom Crawford to stop bailiffs evicting him from his home

It was the latest episode in Mr Crawford’s battle to keep his home. The grandfather, who is suffering from prostate cancer, has been battling the bailiffs over claims he still owes thousands in mortgage repayments on the bungalow.

Mr Crawford, 63, said he ‘would rather die’ than give up the home he has shared with his wife Susan for the past 27 years. 

Last July, after he posted a video online begging for help, more than 300 friends and strangers successfully stopped bailiffs from kicking him out. 

And yesterday, six months after the first eviction attempt, bailiffs were forced to abandon their efforts again.


Bailiffs were greeted by a sea of people after serving their second eviction notice on Mr Crawford and his wife, Sue


Supporters rally around Tom Crawford to stop bailiffs


The YouTube video has now been shared more than 25,500 times and backing for Mr Crawford’s cause shows no signs of waning, with supporters travelling hundreds of miles to join the protest outside his home in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, again.

He had been ordered to leave his property by 10.30am yesterday. But supporters began congregating in the road before 7am.

At around 11am a white transit van and black Mercedes containing the bailiffs arrived at the bungalow – only to have to drive away.