A DISTRAUGHT Haworth woman has spoken of how her elderly husband suffered mini strokes due to stress after mistakenly receiving invoices from the council.

One of the reminders sent to 77-year-old Bramwell Leitch even threatened court action if he failed to pay-up.

Wife Jane said the final straw was when a £439 invoice landed this month for trumpet lessons he had never had.

"The entire experience with the council's social care provision has been a nightmare of obfuscation, seemingly deliberate delay and prevarication," said Mrs Leitch, 67.

"Bram has genuine care needs which I'm having to meet out of limited personal and financial resources.

"I can't help wondering how many times the council has played this invoice game and caught people who've been too sleep-deprived to question it."

Mr Leitch, who has a neuro-degenerative condition, was first referred for social care in April last year.

He had suffered a stroke 20 years ago which triggered other chronic health problems.

Last October he fell, breaking three ribs. He had sepsis and has been diagnosed with vascular dementia.

Mrs Leitch said the first invoices from Bradford Council arrived on January 5, demanding £1,228 for appliance testing and building work at her Carlton Street home.

"The only 'building' the council undertook was a 27cm grab rail – which took less than 20 minutes to fix," she said.

"Apart from a safe-and-sound pendant – invoiced and paid for separately – the only appliance on loan from the council was an inflatable bath-lift, which belongs to the NHS anyway. This was PAT-tested a month before it was ordered for Bram. We've since sent it back.

"This was the first time either of us had been made aware there was money outstanding. At the time of ordering in September 2016 we were assured there was no cost.

"A reminder, threatening court action, for 'building work' arrived six days later, and one for appliance testing a week after that.

"The first set of invoices stressed Bram so much, he suffered further stroke damage and needed emergency admission to BRI.

"I eventually had a phone call from Social Services saying we didn't owe anything.

"But a letter – addressed to me – which didn't reference the invoices, merely stated, 'you don't have to pay anything towards the cost of your care and support at this time'.

"Since I'm not receiving care, and it's arguable whether my husband actually is, this letter was pointless.

"We eventually received a letter dated January 23 claiming there's 'nothing further currently outstanding'. But on February 1 I received the trumpet lessons invoice and went ballistic."

Bradford Council has apologised.

A spokesman said: "We wrote to Mrs Leitch to apologise for distress caused by this invoice which was accidentally issued. This was down to human error.

"Mrs Leitch was selected from a database in place of another customer. This invoice has now been cancelled and steps have been taken to ensure this mistake isn't repeated. Our staff have been made aware and will be more vigilant in future.”