Nuisance neighbour given prison warning following repeated ASB

A Nottingham man has received a suspended prison sentence for breaching a civil order after causing repeated problems for his neighbours.

Garry Wells, aged 53, of Frobisher Gardens, Sherwood, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (27 September) where he pleaded guilty to breaching a Civil Injunction Order.

He was handed a 28-day prison sentence, suspended until 2024, and has had the terms of the original order extended until August next year.

This follows work by Nottingham City Council Community Protection’s Antisocial Behaviour Team in close partnership with colleagues at Nottinghamshire Police.

Council officers had received a number of reports over the summer of Mr Wells carrying out antisocial behaviour (ASB) and one of making a threat, but neighbours were initially fearful of speaking out. A lot of work went into providing reassurance and encouraging them to give evidence.

Conditions of the civil order that has been renewed include:

• Not to play loud or amplified music from within the property that is audible outside
• Not to play loud or amplified music outside the property
• To cease causing a nuisance to neighbours by shouting, swearing, being aggressive or threatening
• To cease threatening to assault neighbours or anyone employed by Nottingham City Council’s Housing Services
• Not to spit on people
• Not to allow a dog into his property which was barking and causing a nuisance

Councillor Sajid Mohammed, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion said:

“This has been a serious and complex antisocial behaviour case in which Mr Wells has caused a high level of harassment, alarm and distress, along with nuisance and annoyance to his neighbours.

“A civil injunction was served in an attempt to stop his antisocial behaviour but unfortunately he has continued, and is now potentially facing criminal charges and prison if he breaches the order again.

“It has been a great example of our strong partnership links with Nottinghamshire Police, who carried out the arrest for the breach of the injunction the day before Mr Wells appeared in court.

“Community Protection officers have also undertaken reassurance patrols in the area and have supported the antisocial behaviour team by providing evidence. They will continue to work with Housing Services colleagues at the Council to improve the quality of lives for other residents in the area.

“Everyone has the right to live in peace and be treated respectfully. This suspended prison sentence makes clear that we will not tolerate this sort of behaviour in Nottingham, and will take swift and decisive action against those who make the lives of others a misery.”

Inspector Paul Ferguson, of Nottinghamshire Police’s City North Neighbourhood Policing team, said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) remains a key priority for our neighbourhood policing team because we know how much of an impact this type of offending can have on people’s lives.

“We are absolutely committed to doing whatever we can as a force to cracking down on this offending, and a key part of this involves us working in collaboration with our partners, and that includes Nottingham City Council.

“In this case, Mr Wells’ persistent nuisance behaviour resulted in him breaching a civil injunction that had previously been obtained by our colleagues at the council and he received a suspended prison sentence as a result.

“This now means that he will have to curb his behaviour going forward or risk being sent to prison, which is obviously great news for the local community and a good example of effective partnership working between the force and the council.”