Hammer attack leads to injunctions for social tenants

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Legal

Two social tenants have had injunctions granted against them after being convicted of a violent attack on their neighbours.

Sovereign Housing Association was granted the injunction after tenants Dean Williams and partner Michelle Griffiths were found guilty of attacking two other residents with a hammer and a glass bottle.

The couple were convicted of common assault, use of an offensive weapon and criminal damage by Swindon Crown Court on 17 December.

Williams received a two-year suspended sentence and Griffiths an 18-month community order with a supervision order attached.

Following their sentencing, Sovereign applied to the Civil Court for Injunction Orders with Power of Arrests against both perpetrators, and these were granted on 30 January at a hearing at Trowbridge County Court.

The offenders are now forbidden from using or threatening to use violence towards any person in the Hilperton area of Trowbridge, as well as from harassing, alarming or causing distress to them.

“This was extremely nasty assault, which could have been much worse had other residents not intervened,” explained Louise Borzoni, Sovereign’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer.

“The risk posed to the principal victim was deemed so high that we took immediate steps to re-house her to give protection to her and her young children,” she said. “But other residents were left feeling vulnerable and frightened. We hope the suspended sentences and the injunctions will afford them a level of security and peace of mind. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will take further action if required.”

Sovereign’s Head of Anti-Social Behaviour, Aaron Devereaux, said: “In areas where we have homes, we work very hard to look after communities and take our responsibilities seriously when it comes to protecting our communities from harm. We will not hesitate to take decisive action in partnership with local policing teams where we need to.”