A TEENAGER is living in a tent in a neighbour's back garden because his dad has kicked him out of his Bishopstoke home.

Leon Clarke, 17, says his dad - Bishopstoke parish councillor Des Clarke - threw him out of the family home a week ago after a series of rows. The teenager claims the only thing he did wrong was to slam the front door so hard it nearly came off its hinges.

But Mr Clarke, of Sayers Road, told the Daily Echo he threw Leon out because he cannot cope with his disruptive behaviour.

He said Leon had wrecked his bedroom, stolen things and had nearly died after drinking so much that he had to be rushed to hospital to have his stomach pumped.

Leon said: "We'd been having arguments for about a month so he kicked me out of my own home.I've borrowed a tent from a friend up the road and I'm in a neighbour's back garden.

"I can't stay in their house because there's already six people living there. It's not very nice living in a tent - it's cold and wet."

Leon says his problems started last May after his mother Mekiela, 38, died and his dad began dating Sharon McDonald, 40, from Devon. She and Mr Clarke senior had been teenage sweethearts.

Six weeks ago Sharon moved into the house and Leon says they did not get on.

He added: "They don't care that I'm having to live in a tent.

"All they've done is ask me to pick up some of my stuff. Dad's talking to his solicitor to stop me going back home. He should be helping his son."

Liberal Democrat Mr Clarke, who works for RCS - Road Construction Service - and has been a parish councillor for just under a year, said: "He's trashed his bedroom, kicked the front door off, ripped my chequebook up, filled the hallway with rubbish and started beating in two cars.

"He got totally drunk a couple of weeks ago and threw up all over the place.

"He almost died twice and I brought him back by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"He was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital to have his stomach pumped."

Leon, who left Crestwood School last summer, also claims he has lost his job as a general helper at Bishopstoke Recycling Centre since he was thrown out of home.

He said: "I haven't the slightest clue what I'm going to do.

"I've been down to Eastleigh council and they need a letter from my dad to prove he's kicked me out, but he's refused to give me one."

His father, who has four other children at home - said: "Leon didn't pay any housekeeping for nine months and he wouldn't get out of bed to go to work - that's why he lost his job.

"I've made inquiries with my solicitor but I haven't taken any action.

"He's 17 so he's now his own responsibility. He's made his bed so he can lie in it."