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| Sheldon Lewcock: Family of dying teen given 'racist' code by police | Sheldon Lewcock: Family of dying teen given 'racist' code by police |
| (5 months later) | |
| Angela Lewcock is upset by the codeword given to her by police | Angela Lewcock is upset by the codeword given to her by police |
| Angela Lewcock is upset by the codeword given to her by police | Angela Lewcock is upset by the codeword given to her by police |
| A codeword used by police to give a family access to a dying son in hospital was racist, says his mother. | A codeword used by police to give a family access to a dying son in hospital was racist, says his mother. |
| Sheldon Lewcock was hit by a van in Tilehurst, Reading, in August 2022. | Sheldon Lewcock was hit by a van in Tilehurst, Reading, in August 2022. |
| While the 19-year-old - who was mixed race - was in hospital police gave his mother the codeword "banana" for when she wanted to visit. | While the 19-year-old - who was mixed race - was in hospital police gave his mother the codeword "banana" for when she wanted to visit. |
| Thames Valley Police said its professional standards department was investigating the use of the word. | Thames Valley Police said its professional standards department was investigating the use of the word. |
| Tributes were left where Sheldon Lewcock suffered fatal injuries | Tributes were left where Sheldon Lewcock suffered fatal injuries |
| Mr Lewcock, who died five days after the incident, was part of a large family and very close to his mother Angela. | Mr Lewcock, who died five days after the incident, was part of a large family and very close to his mother Angela. |
| She told the BBC her son was affectionally known as "Shelly" and described his "amazing personality" and "wicked sense of humour". | She told the BBC her son was affectionally known as "Shelly" and described his "amazing personality" and "wicked sense of humour". |
| "He had a heart of gold, wouldn't hurt anybody, always out on his bike... they'd go to Sulham Woods a lot because they'd made wooden ramps," Mrs Lewcock said. | "He had a heart of gold, wouldn't hurt anybody, always out on his bike... they'd go to Sulham Woods a lot because they'd made wooden ramps," Mrs Lewcock said. |
| "That's where they were that day." | "That's where they were that day." |
| Mrs Lewcock said she had affectionally called her son "Shelly" since he was a young boy | Mrs Lewcock said she had affectionally called her son "Shelly" since he was a young boy |
| Mr Lewcock suffered catastrophic injuries on Pierce's Hill, Tilehurst, while he was out with his friends on their bikes. | Mr Lewcock suffered catastrophic injuries on Pierce's Hill, Tilehurst, while he was out with his friends on their bikes. |
| Despite that he still managed to call his mum. | Despite that he still managed to call his mum. |
| "My phone rang and it was Sheldon," Mrs Lewcock said. "He repeatedly said my name, 'Mum. Mum. Mum.' | "My phone rang and it was Sheldon," Mrs Lewcock said. "He repeatedly said my name, 'Mum. Mum. Mum.' |
| "By then, I'm asking Sheldon, 'What's up?' The phone went dead and within about 10 seconds I had a FaceTime call from Sheldon... he had blood all over his face." | "By then, I'm asking Sheldon, 'What's up?' The phone went dead and within about 10 seconds I had a FaceTime call from Sheldon... he had blood all over his face." |
| Mrs Lewcock said her boy had an "amazing personality" and "wicked sense of humour" | Mrs Lewcock said her boy had an "amazing personality" and "wicked sense of humour" |
| When she arrived at the scene she sat with him as he lay on the ground and held his hand while paramedics tried to keep him alive. | When she arrived at the scene she sat with him as he lay on the ground and held his hand while paramedics tried to keep him alive. |
| Mr Lewcock was airlifted to hospital and his family were with him when he was put into an induced coma. | Mr Lewcock was airlifted to hospital and his family were with him when he was put into an induced coma. |
| They were given a special codeword to get access to his room. | They were given a special codeword to get access to his room. |
| She said: "To visit my son he had a password, which was banana, which I didn't really think much of it at the time and it wasn't until after I realised that it was probably a racist comment. It's disgusting." | She said: "To visit my son he had a password, which was banana, which I didn't really think much of it at the time and it wasn't until after I realised that it was probably a racist comment. It's disgusting." |
| Yvonne Yew, editor-in-chief of Reading's Caribbean Express News | Yvonne Yew, editor-in-chief of Reading's Caribbean Express News |
| Yvonne Yew, editor-in-chief of Reading's Caribbean Express News, said: "The password banana is inappropriate. | Yvonne Yew, editor-in-chief of Reading's Caribbean Express News, said: "The password banana is inappropriate. |
| "It indicates that the person has to be black and of colour, and normally you would associate bananas with a monkey. That's the association that I got. | "It indicates that the person has to be black and of colour, and normally you would associate bananas with a monkey. That's the association that I got. |
| "I was horrified when I heard that was the password. | "I was horrified when I heard that was the password. |
| "It's a serious matter. It might only seem like one word but it's one word that has affected this family and the community as a whole." | "It's a serious matter. It might only seem like one word but it's one word that has affected this family and the community as a whole." |
| In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: "We are conducting an investigation into the password which was used at the hospital. This has been referred to our professional standards department." | In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: "We are conducting an investigation into the password which was used at the hospital. This has been referred to our professional standards department." |
| An 18-year-old man has been charged with failing to report an accident and driving without insurance. | An 18-year-old man has been charged with failing to report an accident and driving without insurance. |
| Thames Valley Police confirmed its serious collision investigation unit was continuing its inquiries into the crash. | Thames Valley Police confirmed its serious collision investigation unit was continuing its inquiries into the crash. |
| "Sheldon's family continue to be supported by family liaison officers and are regularly updated on the investigation," it added. | "Sheldon's family continue to be supported by family liaison officers and are regularly updated on the investigation," it added. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Berkshire | |
| Reading | Reading |
| Tilehurst | Tilehurst |