Santa's Christmas visit to Leeds autistic boy improves behaviour massively after struggles through Covid year

Harry Roberts, aged seven, is autistic and changing routines are a really big deal and struggle for him.

The inconsistencies of being in and out of school during lockdown changes partnered with friends being off school to isolate have caused a deterioration in Harry’s behaviour this year.

But since a visit from Santa which surprised the whole Swarcliffe-residing family, Harry’s behaviour in school has been ‘ten times better’, almost reverting back to how he was before the lockdowns started.

Harry’s mum Nichola Duce said: “It was amazing when Santa came.

“My partner had just gone to pick his mum up and when they got back Santa was at the top of the street with another family so they asked if he would mind waving to our family.

“The kids all sat at the window waving and then all of a sudden Santa was knocking at the door.”

Nichola said Santa’s jar of sweets was ‘as big as her arm’ and he kept encouraging the children to go back for more and more sweets as he saw how happy they were.

The mother-of-four added: “Harry is usually really nervous around Santa but he ran to get his toy to show Santa and he was laughing like crazy, it was amazing to see.

“I told Harry he had come to visit because Santa knew that he’d been a little bit naughty and wanted to make sure that he was good from now on.

“I haven’t heard the end of it since and Harry now keeps promising he will be a good boy and he thinks he’s getting absolutely everything for Christmas.”

Nichola’s youngest child, David, is just seven weeks old and teachers at Harry’s school were initially concerned that he was struggling with the change of there being a baby in the house but Nichola said he is ‘absolutely brilliant’ with David.

Nichola said: “It’s like Santa just knew with Harry being so small and nervous and now he’s completely changed him.

“Harry is an amazing child, he’s so soft hearted and I think this year has just been a bit of an emotion overload for him.

“But if he stays how he is after Santa’s visit, it’ll be amazing.”

Nichola initially asked Facebook users to help her find who the surprise ‘Santa’ was, and has since found out it was someone who lives on her street.

She added “I’ll definitely be sending his daughter a Christmas gift this year now.

“This Santa probably doesn’t realise how much of a difference he has made but he deserves to know how kind he has been to us and that he has made Harry's year.”

Harry also has two sisters: 12-year-old Kimberley and Jessica, aged 11.