Home / Crime and Justice / Disabled Man's 9-Year "Jail" Ordeal Ends
Disabled Man's 9-Year "Jail" Ordeal Ends
12 Aug
Summary
- David Cording spent nearly nine years in an assessment center.
- Over £2m was spent by taxpayers on his extended stay.
- He has now returned to his own flat with 24/7 care.
David Cording, 54, spent nearly nine years in Concord Lodge, an assessment centre in Bristol, describing it as his "jail." He has cerebral palsy, autism, and learning disabilities. Initially moved to the facility in 2015 after an incident with carers, his stay far exceeded the planned few weeks.
Friends and family calculated the cost of his prolonged stay at Concord Lodge, which closed in 2024, to be over £2 million, based on a weekly cost of £4,600. This expenditure drew criticism, with one friend noting it was "£2m of local taxpayers' money" spent on a hated placement.
Bristol City Council faced a complaint upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman in 2020, leading to an apology and compensation. The council also settled a civil case in March 2026. Despite these actions, David remained at Concord Lodge until 2024.
The council eventually found a suitable placement for David, enabling him to return to his original flat in 2015, now equipped with safety improvements and 24/7 carers. His family expressed relief, with his mother calling his prolonged stay "unbelievable."
