Magistrates grant Closure Order on Hartlepool property

Teesside Magistrates approved the three-month order on 10 Salisbury Place, a Home Group property, following an application from Hartlepool Borough Council on behalf of the multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team.

The legal action, supported by Home Group, was brought due to the tenant targeting vulnerable residents, making threats to kill them and making false complaints about his neighbours.

The court was told that he engaged in repeated, prolonged and persistent noise nuisance at all hours of the day and night, as well as screaming, shouting, using foul and insulting language and using intimidating and threatening behaviour towards his neighbours.

As well as granting the Closure Order, the magistrates awarded the Council costs of £1299.

10 Salisbury Place

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “This is the 11th Closure Order to be obtained since July last year and it shows that we are not prepared to allow law-abiding residents’ lives to be ruined by such unacceptable behaviour.

“People should be able to live in peace, free from fear and intimidation, and we will not hesitate to take strong action against those indulging in criminal and anti-social behaviour.”

Inspector Adrian Dack of Hartlepool Neighbourhood Team said: "The threats and intimidation by the occupant was making the lives of neighbours a misery. This Closure Order will prevent the occupant returning to the property and the area and will, hopefully, enable those living in the street to do so peacefully. We will not tolerate such behaviour and will continue to take action against anti-social behaviour in our communities."

The maximum penalty for breaching a Closure Order is six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Anyone who witnesses an order being breached should call Cleveland Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.