GCH evicts tenant for anti-social behaviour

Gloucester City Homes (GCH) has obtained possession of a property in Columbia Close, Kingsholm after the 57-year-old tenant had subjected residents to a barrage of anti-social behaviour (ASB) over three years.

The eviction is the culmination of three years of sustained work by GCH with residents and various partners, starting with an ASB Injunction against the tenant in December 2009. The injunction was secured followed an assault on another resident, to stop warring rows between three neighbours of the block of flats.

However, the problem continued, with the injunction seriously breached on numerous occasions in November and December 2011. As a result, the tenant was sentenced to prison for 88 days and his injunction order was extended by two years.

Whilst serving this sentence he breached his injunction again by writing a malicious letter to the employer of another tenant in the block, causing nuisance and annoyance. Following this the tenant agreed in court to a total exclusion from his home and part of Kingsholm, enabling the residents to continue to live in peace, without fear of reprisals, as they had done since the tenant went to prison.

GCH worked in close partnership with Gloucester City Council, the Gloucester City Local Policing Team and other agencies to support the residents affected by the ASB most of who came forward in support of the possession action.

One resident who gave a statement said: “I have learnt over the last three years that his behaviour can be very irrational and unpredictable and I am uncertain how he will react if he were to return to the property. I would constantly be looking over my shoulder if this were to happen.”

Sara Taylor, ASB Manager for GCH commented “This action was the only reasonable outcome taking everything into consideration. GCH works hard to tackle ASB in the City in partnership with all residents and our partners. I am pleased that the residents affected can now have some assurance that he will not return to live in the property and that he remains banned from the surrounding area for quite some time to come.”

PC Steven Crown, City Centre LPA for Gloucestershire Constabulary added: “A lot of work has been put in by the police to get this sorted in partnership with GCH. This is a good result for all. We put the community first when deciding to support this action to protect the residents affected.”