I’ve been forced to flee my home and live in a SHED after I was bitten 100 TIMES by a spider – it’s been hell
A CHEF has been forced to flee his home and live in a pal’s garden SHED after he was bitten more than 100 times by a colony of false widow spiders.
Desperate Russell Davies, 56, was repeatedly attacked by as many as 20 arachnids while he slept, leaving him covered in painful bites, while his mental health also suffered.
Attempts by pest controllers to remove the eight-legged beasts from the housing association property failed.
And the situation became so bad Russell took the drastic step of leaving the flat, in Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and sleeping in a local wood.
He now spends five-nights-a-week in the 6ft by 12ft windowless shed surrounded by spades and other gardening tools.
Russell then sleeps in his pal’s house for two nights when the friend is working a night-shift.
Grandad-of-seven Russell said: “The whole thing has been absolute hell.
“Living in a shed isn’t exactly ideal – but I was extremely grateful for the offer as it meant I was no longer homeless, and it is a lot better than my spider-filled flat.
“Back there, I was terrified to go to sleep. The false widows hide during the day, they won’t come anywhere near you then. But they can sense when you are asleep, and that is when they come out.
“I wouldn’t close my eyes through fear, but eventually I would drop off through exhaustion. I’d wake up with bites on my neck, back, and behind my ears.”
He added: “I have been staying there since the start of February. As sheds go, it’s really nice. It is all boarded out at the bottom, and keeps the elements out just fine.
“It isn’t heated, but I have an American-style camp bed in there, and when I am in my sleeping bag my body heat keeps me warm.
“My friend is so kind – he lets me use the shower and kitchen during the day, and I have access to electricity so I can at least charge my phone. I am just glad I am inside at night.”
What is a false widow spider?
Although the arachnid’s venom usually has a mild effect on humans, some people have come down with horror injuries after reacting badly to being nipped.
They have been known to infest sheds and houses, leading to fears homeowners may unwittingly be living with them.
The most common type is a noble false widow and is the largest of the three most common species, reaching a body length of between 8.5 and 11 millimetres.
The species is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, but it gradually spread throughout Europe.
Russell, who is single, moved into the infested apartment in January 2020.
He first noticed a problem around a week later, but put his skin irritation down to eczema treatment.
However, the complaint failed to clear up, he Googled an image of a spider he had taken in the flat – and realised he was dealing with a colony of false widows.
Hell complained to Clarion Housing Association, the company that owns the property, but it refused to fumigate his home or pay for heat treatment – instead only offering to clear the communal areas.
Russell is now back on the local authority housing register, and hopes to be rehomed.
False widows can grow up to 1.4cm wide with a leg span that covers a 50p coin, and can be identified from dark brown marks on their abdomen.
A Clarion Housing spokesperson said: “We are firmly committed to resolving any reported issues with Mr Davies’ home.”