A homophobic Kemp Town woman who posted a porn magazine smeared with semen through her neighbour’s letterbox has been evicted.
The 35-year-old resident, who has not been named, waged a three-month war of antisocial behaviour and intimidation from her home at Flat 3, 25 Dorset Gardens.
On Thursday, Brighton Magistrates’ Court awarded Brighton and Hove City Council a closure order.
The court heard the woman’s behaviour included intimidating a 90-year old neighbour, groups of drunken youths outside the premises and suspected drug use.
Glass jars containing hot oil were also thrown out of the premises hitting council workers and endangering members of the public while neighbours stopped allowing their dogs into gardens fearing for their safety.
Sergeant Alex Evans from the neighbourhood policing team for Kemptown said: “Anti social behaviour has a serious impact on peoples’ lives. This sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated in the city.”
The property was secured immediately after the court hearing and it will remain closed for three months. Any unauthorised persons found entering the property during the closure period including the resident and their associates will be committing an offence.
Jenny Knight, the council’s antisocial behaviour co-ordinator said “All the agencies involved would like to thank the local residents for overcoming their fears in order to report incidents and provide witness evidence this action would not have been possible without their help”
Maria Caulfield, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “While these powers are only used as a last resort we cannot allow residents’ or their guests’ behaviour make neighbours’ lives a misery. I applaud the patient and painstaking work by Sussex Police who worked with council officers and residents to provide the evidence needed to close this premises.”
The successful case was brought through close partnership work by Sussex Police and the council’s antisocial behaviour and temporary accommodation team. This involved gaining the trust of local residents and encouraged them to report incidents and provide evidence.
If you are a victim of anti social behaviour you can contact the antisocial behaviour team on 01273 292929, Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or your housing provider.
Sergeant Alex Evans from the neighbourhood policing team for Kemptown said: “Anti social behaviour has a serious impact on peoples’ lives. This sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated in the city.”
Well, given that there was a “three month war of anti social behaviour” prior to the eviction, these two comments don’t quite seem to fit together.