Triple court success against nuisance neighbours
Sheffield City Council has recently obtained one injunction and two undertakings from tenants in the courts. All three tenants must stop causing noise nuisance or they will face fines or even imprisonment.
The cases were prepared by Sheffield Homes, which recently gained the maximum 3 star rating in an inspection. One of the areas the inspectors singled out for praise was the work being done to tackle anti social behaviour in the city.
On Friday 10 December the Council obtained an injunction against Beverley Dawn Ward, 21, of Adkins Road Sheffield, S5. She had made her neighbours life a misery for the last twelve months by allowing loud house music, shouting, screaming and banging to emanate from her property at all times of the day including late at night and very early on Sunday mornings.
In court, His Honour Judge Bullimore granted the injunction after hearing evidence from the Council, describing the catalogue of nuisance suffered by Miss Ward’s next door neighbour. The Order forbids Miss Ward from doing anything which causes the noise of amplified music or amplified sound, raised voices or banging to emanate from her property between the times of midnight and 8am every night, and from using abusive language and threatening behaviour which could cause nuisance, annoyance, or harassment to other people. The injunction will remain in force for one year.
On Monday 13th December Katie Johnson of Dagnam Road Sheffield S2, gave an undertaking to the court to abide by the conditions of her tenancy agreement. She made a promise to the court not to allow loud amplified music, amplified sound, raised voices and banging to emanate from her home which could cause nuisance and annoyance to her neighbours. She also promised not to shout at, swear at, or threaten her neighbours. Miss Johnson will be bound by the promise for four months. Another hearing will then take place on 13 April to review the effectiveness of the undertaking.
On Friday 10th December Diane Wraith, of Cowley Gardens, Sheffield, S20 also agreed to an undertaking, promising not to do anything herself or to instruct or encourage others to cause excessive noise to emanate from her home which would cause nuisance and annoyance to other people. She also promised not to use abusive language and intimidating and threatening behaviour to other people including staff employed by Sheffield City Council. Miss Wraith will be bound by the undertaking for the next twelve months.
Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Advisor for Community Safety, said: “These cases demonstrate our determination to take action against nuisance neighbours. I am pleased that the courts have supported our work, and are helping us to deal with noise nuisance."
All three tenants were warned by the judge that if they breached the undertaking or injunction they could be punished with a fine or a term of imprisonment. The judge also made sure that each tenant understood the implications of continuing their behaviour.
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Contact: Claire Turner, Corporate Media Team, on 0114 273 6934