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A transgender woman was forced to flee her home in terror after mindless yobs left a knife and death threats on her front door.

Nat, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said her life became a "living hell" after revealing to trusted neighbours she was male to female transgender.

Her house was repeatedly broken into and she lost her job after she disclosed she was taking medication for anxiety and depression,

The final straw came when she woke up one morning to find death threats daubed in paint on her door, the Liverpool ECHO reports.

Nat phoned her housing association in Merseyside who reported the incident as a hate crime to the police and arranged for her to be moved.

But her ordeal wasn't over.

When she returned to her flat to collect her belongings, she found a knife embedded in the door.

Nat said: "When I saw the knife, it really drove home to me how terrifying things had become. Sometimes I don’t think you realise how bad things are until you are removed from the situation.

"Within months of confiding in some neighbours I thought I could trust that I was transgender, my life spiralled out of control.

"I was singled out for being different and my life quickly descended into a living hell."

"I was broken into twice within a week. The first time they took my valuables but the second time, they just took a carton of juice.

"I felt like they broke in just to torment me, not for any financial gain."

The hate crime Nat was subjected to led to her self harming and taking medication.

She said: "The abuse I was suffering set me back in my transition journey because I felt like I couldn’t be myself.

"I felt worthless so I started self harming and became increasingly depressed and anxious.

"I was working as a welder at the time but because I operated machinery I had to admit to my employer that I was on medication.

"The next thing I knew, I was being handed my P45."

"I had no money so I would go for days without eating. I was scared to go outside and without a job, I had no reason to leave the flat.

"I became more and more withdrawn. When my laptop was stolen, I felt even more isolated and I couldn’t afford insurance so I couldn’t replace it."

Nat has spoken out about the horror she suffered as part of the launch of a scheme by Riverside Housing Association in Liverpool to help troubled young people avoid losing their homes.

The Intensive Intervention project is designed to help tenants aged 16 to 30.

Nat said: "Riverside has given me a new beginning. They not only moved me into a new flat and helped me apply for a hardship fund to furnish it but I was back in work within two weeks after being referred me to one of their employment and training officers.

"I still have to endure prejudice – I recently went to a charity shop for some women’s clothes and was told that it wasn’t God’s will for me to be a woman. But at least now, I feel safe in my own home, and thanks to Riverside’s support I have reconnected with the LGBT community."

Peter Gallagher, Nat’s Intensive Intervention officer who is based in Knotty Ash, said: "It is all credit to Nat that she has endured everything she has and come out the other side feeling positive.

"I’ve referred Nat to Riverside’s LGBT Tenants and Residents Group, which will provide invaluable support throughout her transition."