STEPHENS STORY

A mother from Herefordshire says years of inadequate care has destroyed her son's mind beyond repair.

Sue Clifford from Fownhope has hit out at the treatment given to her son, qualified doctor Stephen Sadler, who suffers from a condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD.

BDD affects the way a person sees themselves, making them extremely anxious about their image. For Stephen, a combination of stress at work AND a small scar on his forehead drove him into depression, where he spent more than 60,000 on plastic surgery.

Stephen lost a leg and arm in a double suicide attempt while he was taking anti psychotic drugs. Once he was sectioned, he underwent massive doses of electric shock treatments and worried for his safety - his family pulled him out of a NHS mental health hospital and now have to look after his complex needs themselves.

Our reporter Julie Tyler has been speaking to Sue to find out how life is now for Stephen and the rest of the family.