NEWS FROM WANDSWORTH

www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news

For immediate release

July 24, 2003

Tel Charlie Masson Smith 020 8871-6173

E-mail: cmassons@wandsworth.gov.uk

Ref 03410

Five year jail threat for 'neighbour from hell'

A **-year-old Wandsworth man could be jailed for up to five years if he breaches any of the conditions contained in the borough's first Anti Social Behaviour Order.

The man, who is not being identified for legal reasons, was made the subject of an ASBO during a hearing at Wandsworth County Court yesterday (Wednesday).

A judge ruled that if the man breaches any of the orders imposed by the court and is convicted, he will face up to five years in jail.

The judge imposed 14 conditions designed to prevent the man from harassing and threatening his neighbours, other members of the public and damaging property. Included in the conditions are orders preventing him from:

· Associating with persons….concerned in the unlawful use or supply of controlled drugs

· Leaving needles, syringes or crack pipes in communal areas of his housing block

· Using threatening, abusive, inflammatory words or behaviour in any public place

· Begging in the area around his home or in local supermarket car parks

· Encouraging visitors to loiter or congregate outside his home

· Accumulating rubbish so as to be a risk to property or public health, other than in appropriate plastic bags.

· Interfering with property belonging to others

· Committing criminal damage or theft

· Interfering with the peaceful enjoyment by others of their residential property, so as to causes nuisance or annoyance to neighbours.

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The conditions contained in the order apply to the whole of England and Wales

The ASBO was obtained as the result of a high degree of co-operation between the council, police, local drug agencies and the Battersea Churches and Chelsea Housing Trust, which owns the property currently occupied by the man.

Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister said: "The neighbours of this man will undoubtedly be delighted to learn that if he continues to cause them any problems, he is likely to be taken straight off to prison to serve what could be a very substantial sentence.

"In this case, this individual had plenty of opportunities to change his ways, but he chose to ignore the warnings and the help that was offered to him. Now he must face up to the consequences of that.

"The success of this operation has been the very close levels of co-operation between all the agencies involved. Staff in the council's housing and technical services departments, the police and the housing association concerned have all worked extremely hard to tackle this problem and protect the local community.

"People who persistently cause trouble for their neighbours as a result of their anti-social behaviour do not just have to worry about eviction and losing their home. They must also realise that they face the very real prospect of being locked up for long periods of time.

"If they smash a window or steal a bike, then they won't just get a slap on the wrists - they could go to prison for five years."

ENDS

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