Mother evicted from flat after son's violent attack on council officer

A mother has been evicted from her home after her son - who was already barred from the area - returned and assaulted a council officer in a "violent attack".

Linda Pinnington, 60, has been evicted from her council property in Whitburn, Lancashire, for failure to stop her son Philip Hayes' behaviour while in her home.

He had been evicted from his council flat last August following complaints made to West Lancashire Borough Council and the police of drunken, violent anti-social behaviour.

He was subsequently issued with an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction (ASBI) barring him from certain areas and banned aggressive and threatening behaviour.

The council said Mrs Pinnington allowed her son inside her property despite the injunction which banned him from the area and also provided him with alcohol that "exacerbated his behaviour".

Neighbours complained he was screaming, shouting, fighting and banging inside his mother’s home, as well as being drunk in the street and arguing with a woman. 

When approached, the council said Mr Hayes assaulted a council officer, in an attack described by the council officer as the most "violent experience he had suffered while in his current role".   

Following the assault, the council took tenancy enforcement action against Mrs Pinnington for allowing anti-social behaviour to take place at her property.

Sergeant Andy Willis, Skelmersdale Police, said: “We are committed to working with our colleagues in the council on issues related to anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour can have so many negative effects on communities therefore we work tirelessly to find methods of minimising this type of behaviour from our neighbourhoods.”

Councillor Val Hopley, portfolio holder for landlord services and community safety, said: “The action taken against Mrs Pinnington by the Council highlights our strong commitment to dealing with people who harass and intimidate our communities and officers. Even if you, yourself do not partake in anti-social behaviour, supporting those who do is of equal detriment to our neighbourhoods. Two people from the same family have now lost their council homes through their refusal to behave properly and keep to their tenancy agreements.

“I hope this action will encourage others who may be suffering from anti-social behaviour to come forward, report problems and access the help and support of the council.”