New Year's Hospital Visit Leads to Prison sentence

Published by New Charter for New Charter Housing Trust Group in Housing

A NUISANCE neighbour received a surprise hospital visit this New Year's Eve from a New Charter enforcement officer.

However, Senior Tenancy Enforcement Alan Kibble wasn't there pass on season's greetings and a bunch of grapes, but instead delivered a court order which later led to a short spell in custody.

And an even longer stay in prison could be on the cards if the resident doesn't curb his rowdy behaviour.

A team of legal experts and enforcement officers had gathered a mountain of evidence showing that the man's flat in Ashton Under Lyne, Greater Manchester was to be used for loud, drunken parties. His neighbours reported being kept awake at night by noise and feeling under the constant threat of abuse.

An order forbidding loud parties at the address for the next 12 months was obtained on New Year's Eve at Tameside Magistrates Court. The judge was so concerned with the man's behaviour that he attached powers of arrest to the order should it be breached.

Alan Kibble delivered the court order to the tenant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as he recovered in Tameside hospital from an alcohol-related illness on New Year's Eve. But within days, he had once again made a nuisance of himself and breached the order.

He spent four days on remand before receiving a three months suspended prison sentence at Tameside Magistrates on Tuesday, January 11.

Alan Kibble said: "The noise coming from this tenant's flat went far beyond the usual Christmas merriment and his antics were having a hugely negative impact on the lives of his neighbours.

"Handing a court order to someone as they recover in hospital may seem harsh, but New Charter wants to send out a clear message to those who blight the lives of others with their anti social behaviour. It will not be tolerated.

"The offender was due to be discharged from hospital on New Year's Eve, only to resume his antisocial ways. Hopefully we have sent out a clear message about what 2011 could hold for this man if he continues."

The original order was also amended so that the man may have no more than two visitors or make excessive noise at any time.