 The council tolerated his presence, as he was claustrophobic, and he became something of a local character.A series of replacement tents was erected by the authorities over his original plastic sheeting; in April 2003 this involved "an operation involving the army, the police, social services and environmental health".Stawinoga had been adopted, over the last decade of his life, by the local Hindu community who believed his lack of possessions echoed that of some holy men in India.