HE WAS branded a "nightmare neighbour" - and now he is facing eviction after York council bosses claimed he had breached a court order to behave.

But as John Doherty fights to stay in his council home in Trinity Lane, Bishophill, he is winning strong and unexpected backing from a string of neighbours.

They claimed that even if Mr Doherty had once been a nuisance tenant, he had made big efforts to behave since the 18-month suspended possession order was issued by York County Court in March last year.

One resident, Pete Kilbane, who has launched a petition in support of Mr Doherty, claimed he had been "as quiet as a mouse".

Mr Kilbane said: "My young kids sleep in a room overlooking John's home and they have never, ever, been disturbed by him."

The Press reported last year how Mr Doherty, who had clocked up 242 complaints and harassment and intimidation, was warned by a judge he would be evicted if he put another foot wrong.

He also agreed to an undertaking preventing him from assaulting, molesting, harassing or pestering Barbara and Karen Merry, for 12 months.

The Merrys claimed Mr Doherty was a bully, and said he had made their lives, and those of other neighbours, a misery.

A council spokeswoman said today that it had reason to believe Mr Doherty had breached his suspended possession order, and it had applied to the court for an eviction warrant.

She said the matter would be heard at York County Court in due course, and she could not make any further comment.

A letter sent to Mr Doherty by the council's tenancy enforcement officer, Joyce McKelvey, said there had been a complaint of noise nuisance on Christmas Day, two further incidents had been reported from mid-March and there had been "numerous other incidents since April 2005."

The Merrys declined to comment at this stage, saying only that all the evidence would be presented at the court hearing.

Mr Doherty said he was "devastated" at the thought of being forced to leave his home, and claimed the action was very unfair, as he had made real efforts not to be a nuisance neighbour.

Neighbours and former neighbours who came forward to support him included:

Phil Copley, who claimed: "It's absolute nonsense.

John has not put a foot wrong in the last couple of years - he has been no trouble whatsoever - and his children are very well behaved."

Jock, who declined to give his surname, said: "He's all right. He doesn't cause any trouble around here as far as I know. I think it (the eviction application) is ridiculous."

Richard Crabtree, said: "I have lived directly above him for two years, and have had no problems with him."

Graham Steele, who lives part of the time in a flat which is near Mr Doherty, said: "I have never had any trouble with John whatsoever.

"I am prepared to travel up from Reading to speak on his behalf at the court hearing."

Mr Kilbane said he believed the council had wrongly become involved in a "personality clash."

Updated: 09:10 Saturday, April 29, 2006