Neighbour evicted after more than 70 complaints

ANEIGHBOUR from hell has been evicted from his home after more than 70 complaints were made against him.

South Wales Police, who refused to name the man, said residents of Ashwood Court, on Elm Street, in Cathays, Cardiff, had “endured years of abuse and intimidation at the hands of a tenant and his associates who would regularly visit his flat.”

The force obtained a closure order after serving a notice.

On Friday a notice order was posted on the boarded-up flat by the housing association saying the resident no longer lived there.

A Wales and West Housing spokeswoman said: “We operate a zero tolerance practice where drugs are concerned and tenancy enforcement will always be considered where this takes place.

“Unfortunately, where Elm Street is concerned, many of the residents were too afraid to tell us what was happening until the problem had taken hold.”

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said there were “a lot of problems” in the block.

“There were so many people coming back and forth at all sorts of times,” the resident said.

“I’ve had people ringing my bell at 3am.”

He was concerned such disturbances were going on just yards from St Peter’s RC Primary School.

The resident said he had been forced to confront anti-social behaviour by people visiting the property on a number of occasions.

“Once one tried to get rowdy, but then shut up and left,” he said.

“At least something has been done about it.

“It means the police are taking the situation seriously. It doesn’t bother me that they are getting rid of people.”

Another person who lived at the block said there was “always trouble” there.

Police said residents endured “all night parties” and visitors would bang on windows to get access to the building’s communal area.

Some mornings residents would leave their homes to find people slouched in the stairwell.

PC Alex Bourner, said: “This is the first time that we have used this legislation to close a problem property in Cardiff.

“Although we didn’t have the crimes linked to the address, we had excessive anti-social behaviour reports and many referrals from the housing association so, working closely in partnership, we were able to use that as grounds to close the premises.

“The residents have had their lives turned upside down by their unruly neighbour.”

He said it was “very satisfying” that effective partnership working between South Wales Police and Wales and West Housing has helped to ensure a better quality of life for the community”.

Wales and West Housing working with South Wales Police was “key” to tackling problems.

The spokeswoman said: “We have already secured possession on two properties in the area for drug-related activity, however this is a lengthy process, we believe that closing this particular property will provide residents with some respite, whilst we go through the civil court procedure.

“We will continue to work in partnership with police authorities across Wales, to create safe and sustainable communities”.