Jobless dad-of-seven who set up £3,500 GoFundMe appeal to buy Christmas presents says ‘we’re amazing parents’
A JOBLESS couple with seven kids who set up a £3,500 GoFundMe appeal for Christmas cash have slammed their “disgraceful” critics and insisted “we’re amazing parents”.
Ryan Rodgers, 26, and Jenny Grimes, 25, from Liverpool, made an emotive plea for help after their Universal Credit payment was slashed, leaving them with just £480 a month to live on.
The couple say they are forced to rely on food banks, charities and help from pals and relatives to feed their kids, who are all under seven years old.
Writing on the crowdfunder, Ms Grimes said they were “ashamed” to ask for help but were facing a tough struggle ahead of Christmas.
However they faced a backlash from furious neighbours who slammed the unemployed couple as “idle” and “dope smoking”.
Returning fire, Mr Rodgers wrote on Facebook that his family’s lives had been “ruined” after their online campaign went viral.
He said: “This is the 1 and only time that I will say anything.
“What you should know is that we are giving over £2000 back to the charities and the people that have helped us in the time that we have been going through a hard time.
“We didn’t do any of this for donations it was to raise awareness after going through the hardest year of my life after personal reasons and me not being able to go to work.
“The things that have been said is disgraceful and has actually ruined not only my life but also my family as well.”
He added: “Both me and Jenny are amazing parents and the kids are very well looked after. The whole thing is outrageous and has caused a lot of problems for me.”
FURIOUS NEIGHBOURS
It comes after angry neighbours took issue with the family’s desperate plea, saying it was undeserved.
Retired Joan Bennett said: “If anyone does give them money I know where it will be going – cannabis.
“The smell of pot used to be out there first thing in the morning. In the summer I’d be hanging out my washing and screaming, ‘Will you stop smoking that stuff and get a bloody job?'”
Another neighbour added: “He [Ryan] was smoking pot all day long – starting at seven in the morning sometimes and carrying on until late at night.
“He was an absolute disgrace. Anyone who has given them money for presents needs to know it is more likely to go on buying gear. They’ve had handouts all their life – it’s time they started paying their way like anyone else.”
JOBLESS COUPLE
The family-of-nine – Ellie, seven, six-year-old twins Kenzie and Kelsie, Laysie, four, Archie, two and two twin boys, Tobie and Rylie, aged seven months – live in a three-bedroom home, which costs £675 a month in rent.
Mr Rodgers used to work as a waiter, but has been washing cars to pay their electricity bills.
The couple said their children “wanted for nothing” until Mr Rodgers lost his job over a health scare last year.
Mr Rodgers says he suffers from depression and anxiety and became an alcoholic, but has now beaten the booze.
But his mother-in-law, Ms Grattan, told MailOnline: “Ryan is a feckless liar who is trying to con the public into giving him money which he will just pour down his throat.
“No one should give him any money as he has a drink problem and that’s where it will all go. He will spend it all on booze.
“Anyone who has donated to the GoFundMe page should ask for their money back. He is conning the public with a sob story that is not true.”
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Ms Grimes has been forced to defend her partner after her mum branded him an alcoholic.
She said: “Our own family is commenting and telling people that Ryan is an alcoholic, he used to have a problem with drink but he’s not drunk for ages.
“People are also suggesting things about drugs which is ridiculous, I’ve not touched a drug in my life and I wouldn’t let anything like that anywhere near my kids. I think drugs are disgusting.
“We are good parents who are on benefits, receiving the most minimal amount of money from the government, we can’t survive on just this.
“We’ve had lots of nasty texts, emails and phone calls, I believe a relative is actually giving out my number for people to text us abuse because we don’t get on.
“People are telling us that they’re reporting us to the CPS and social services.”
Mr Rodgers denied ever having used cannabis or any other drugs.
He said: “They’re lying. Why’s everyone saying stuff about me?”
His dad, Leslie, a police sergeant said he had not seen his son for several months and was “not aware” of his claimed financial difficulties.
He said: “I’ll certainly be calling him. He knows he can get in touch if he needs anything.”
