Emergency Injunction To Combat Racist Abuse

An emergency injunction was served on Steven Kevin Dennell today (14th July).  Sheffield City Council obtained the injunction at Sheffield County Court on Friday 8th July against Mr Dennell who is the tenant of a flat at Edward Street, close to the city centre.

 

The Council sought an emergency injunction because Mr Dennell was alleged to have racially abused and then assaulted one of his neighbours (who is of Greek origin) at Tesco Express Supermarket on West Street on 29th May 2005. 

 

The neighbour reported this to Sheffield Homes who in turn warned Mr Dennell that his conduct placed him in breach of his conditions of tenancy and that he risked losing his home.  This warning appears to have led to a second incident on 1st July 2005 when Mr Dennell is alleged to have run at his neighbour shouting that he knew he had reported him and then viciously assaulting him by hitting him over the head with a mug and then kicking him.  This took place outside the flats. The neighbour sustained injuries including the loss of his 2 front teeth.

 

South Yorkshire Police have been involved in respect of both incidents.

 

Mr Dennell wasn't given notice of the application for the injunction because the Council and Sheffield Homes feared that this would precipitate a further attack on the neighbour. 

 

Assistant Recorder Hickey granted the injunction for 6 months.  It prohibits Mr Dennell from approaching or making any contact with his neighbour or engaging in or threatening to engage in any conduct causing or likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to his neighbour and from entering the 4th floor and an area of the car park at the flats.

 

If Mr Dennell breaches the injunction then he could be sent to prison.

 

Assistant Recorder Hickey said that he accepted the evidence of the neighbour, a Sheffield Homes Housing Officer and a Police Officer in respect of the assault on 29th May and more worryingly the assault on 1st July 2005 and said that the Council was entirely justified in approaching the court without giving notice to Mr Dennell. 

 

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Advisor for Community Safety, said: “We will not tolerate anti social behaviour, particularly in the form of racial abuse.  We have received allegations of a serious nature and have acted upon them.  I would like to thank the court for supporting us in this case, and helping us to send out a message that we will take strong action to prevent and tackle this kind of behaviour.”

 

Ends

 

Press Contact: Claire Turner, Corporate Media Team, on 01142 736934 or 07764 659181.  Email claire.turner2@sheffield.gov.uk.