A single mum has shared shocking videos of her daily struggle raising her three severely autistic kids.
Laksuma Begum, 32, says she can be left feeling like a "prisoner in her own home’ looking after her boys – and has even had to call police before.
The supply teacher has shared footage in a plea to the council in Newport, Wales, for help.
Clips shows non-verbal boys Caius, eight, Kyan, seven, and Sammy, five, grabbing their mums hair, tugging at curtains, screaming and biting.
Laksuma claims she has been seeking respite care for her ‘angels in disguise’ since 2015 but has received little help.
The mum, who split up with her husband in February 2018, has now shared the videos to raise awareness of the impact autism can have on families.
The 32-year-old said: "My babies can’t express themselves, and that causes them severe anxiety.
"Autism is a very different, complex situation.
"My children are challenging but they have built me up to such a level – I think they were given to me for a reason, to raise awareness for children with autism and families out there.
"All I’ve ever asked for from the authorities is some help to make my home a safe place and allow my children to have a mother, but I’ve received nothing.
"I am not only fighting for my children, I want to raise awareness for all the families that might be going through what I am.
"I have a lot of patience and stamina and I still haven’t been broken, but I don’t know for how long I can keep going.
"Currently, we are prisoners in our own home.
"To this day I can’t go out with my kids without the risk of one of them running away, I have to have them on a harness just so they can have a life.
"People see me at the supermarket, with all three boys securely attached to the trolley even though they are not little, and say I am a lazy mother.
"There is a lot of misunderstanding because my children look beautiful and normal."
Laksuma’s boys go to Ysgol Bryn Derw and Pillgwenlly Primary School in Newport, which the mum describes as ‘absolutely fantastic’.
But she said life as a single mum is difficult, and in order for her to be able to have time to cook or have a shower she has to keep her sons occupied with tablets – which they keep smashing.
Two weeks ago, Kyan attacked Sammy so violently Laksuma said she was forced to call Gwent Police.
She said her local council intervened in December last year and offered two nights monthly respite care for the older boys – but claims it was revoked after two stays.
Her ex-partner, who she still has a mutual relationship with due to her children, looks after each boy once a month since the couple separated last year.
Laksuma said sometimes her neighbours help out during before and after school hours, just so she can work, but they are becoming more reluctant as the boys’ actions become more violent.
She previously also paid for two private babysitters to help for between nine and 12 hours a week but last December was forced to stop working until a more permanent solution is found.
Laksuma said: "I have had to put my work on hold.
"I want to be a mother to my children, to be able to spend time with them, and I want my children to have a mother.
"I am starting to realise that unintentionally I have become a ‘supermum’ but actually I feel more like a care giver.
"I would rather my kids have a life, because right now they are suffering more than me."
A spokesperson for Newport City Council said: "Newport City Council is sympathetic to the concerns raised by this family and a social worker has been working with the parent for many months to help alleviate the concerns raised.
"However it is not council policy to comment on individual cases, especially when young children are concerned.
"The council does recognise that respite care is extremely important for families and this is provided along with a range of other support services from the local authority along with other organisations."
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