Evicted

Karen Smith, 36, of Cranfield Place, Foxwood, has just 28 days to vacate her property after District Judge Michael Handley granted City of York Council an immediate possession order at York County Court yesterday.

The catalogue of incidents connected to Miss Smith's home included:

Youths gathering outside using abusive language and behaviour against neighbours

Youths staying overnight in a caravan parked in the garden

Youths playing football in the street in the middle of the night

A visitor to the house destroying a neighbour's fence

Fireworks discharged towards neighbouring properties

Violent arguments between Miss Smith and her former partner, Matthew Dodson, which in one case led to a death threat against a visitor to a neighbouring house.

Miss Smith had argued that the possession order should be suspended on the condition that she take out an injunction on Mr Dodson, who was involved in many of the incidents.

But Judge Handley, describing Mr Dodson as a "volatile individual", rejected that argument because he said more antisocial behaviour was likely to occur.

Miss Smith, who lives with four of her children aged one, three, six and 17, faced 83 separate complaints - 64 of them upheld - relating to incidents between February 2003 and October 2004.

The court heard that one neighbouring couple was reluctant to start a family because of the environment they were living in, and another neighbour was desperate to sell his home, despite the likelihood of him losing money in the sale.

Miss Smith made concessions in 30 of the complaints, mainly relating to arguments with Mr Dodson, and said she was completely unable to control his behaviour.

Judge Handley also said that Miss Smith's eldest son was a "significant part of the problem".

He said: "The neighbours have, quite simply, had enough. It could be argued they have had more than enough."

The court heard that Miss Smith, who has lived in Cranfield Place since 1997, was previously advised by City of York Council to seek an injunction against Mr Dodson, but, apart from making one telephone call to a solicitor, she did not take any action.

She was warned on several occasions that unless her behaviour changed and she controlled what happened in her home she would be evicted.

Tenancy enforcement officer Neil McFarlane said after the hearing: "City of York Council would accept that Miss Smith is not responsible for all problems in Cranfield Place, but her house is undoubtedly at the centre of much of the nuisance caused to residents in the area. We would have liked to have dealt with this by non-legal action, and we did everything possible to avoid it, but our view is that all residents of York deserve a quiet life."

Neighbours tell of their relief

THE overwhelming feeling among residents in Cranfield Place, York, today was one of relief.

After months of suffering intimidation and abuse from Karen Smith and visitors to her home, neighbours in the Foxwood street said they were looking forward to a peaceful Christmas.

One resident, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said that at times she had felt like a prisoner in her own home.

She said: "We would often look out of the window to see if we were able to go out. My home and my garden were no longer my own. I was a prisoner inside. Simple things like painting our fences - we haven't done it for years, or washing the windows.

"Even if we looked out of the windows we were shouted at.

"I am just really relieved, and very surprised. I thought the fact that she had young children would work in her favour, but the council and the police have done a really good job. It gives me hope that if anything else were to happen we could go to the council and get it sorted out.

"It's nice knowing that we are going to have a nice Christmas."

The resident, who bought her home at auction and had no idea of the problems in the street, said summer was the worst time of the year because of the crowds of people hanging around outside.

She said: "It was just hell. I was worried about my kids."

Another resident, who also did not want to be named, said: "We would just look forward to winter time, because when it was dark or when it was raining we knew there wouldn't be loads of youths hanging around outside, staring at you.

"It was basic intimidation.

"We are just so relieved now. They are not out yet, but they will be."

Updated: 09:54 Saturday, November 06, 2004