Nuisance neighbour given injunction
Birmingham County Court has granted a two year Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction against Lee Curtis (32) from Druids Heath. (served on 7 September)
Curtis was previously responsible for racially harassing his neighbours for which he received an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction. Once this expired in early 2013, his tirade of harassment particularly of the couple who lived above him continued.
His behaviour included incidents of foul and racial abuse, threats, and noise nuisance all of which caused alarm and distress to his neighbours. Curtis has also been responsible for aggressive and threatening behaviour towards contractors of Birmingham City Council who were attempting to carry out repairs to his property.
This Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction will mean that Curtis can no longer:
- Use or threaten violence towards, verbally abuse, harass or intimidate against the residents in the property above Lee Curtis at Moor House, Druids Heath or Birmingham City Council employees or contractors.
- Do anything which causes nuisance or annoyance to any person lawfully present in Moor House, Druids Heath including but not limited to playing loud music, shouting, swearing and making banging noises that can be heard outside of the property.
- Enter Moor House, Druids Heath.
If Curtis breaches the above prohibitions, he will be arrested and taken back to court.
This is the second time that Birmingham City Council has applied for an Injunction against Curtis - he has been responsible for causing serious hate crime towards residents of Moor House for a number of years.
Possession proceedings were being pursued against him however; he has now handed the keys to the property back to Birmingham City Council and no longer resides at Moor House.
Cllr James McKay, Cabinet Member for Social Cohesion, Equalities and Community Safety said: “This is an excellent result and has brought some respite to the victims of this unacceptable behaviour. The behaviour of Mr Curtis will continue to be monitored and any breaches of the Injunction order shall be brought back before the court for committal proceedings.
“The city council will seek legal action against any tenant who causes local residents alarm and distress. Despite previous warnings the anti-social behaviour and criminal activity continued so we had no alternative but to take legal action. This case highlights to the community that everyone should have the right to enjoy their neighbourhood without fear.”
Sergeant Jen Pullinger, Birmingham South police said: “This joint investigation by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police shows that anti-social behaviour and hate crime will not be tolerated.
“If there is a particular individual or family causing intimidation and disruption we will take action to ensure this is resolved. This can take time and does rely on public support but these injunctions send a clear message to offenders that the local community, police and council will not stand for anti-social behaviour.”
If you suspect offences related to drugs, burglary and robbery where you live, or wish to give information about anti-social behaviour in your area, please call officers on 101 to report. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- For more media information please contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621 or Natasha Bhandal on 0121 464 6210.
- Birmingham Community Safety Partnership is a joint partnership between Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and other agencies that work together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour that affects our communities.
- Crimestoppers is a national charity which provides secure means for people to get information to the police, anonymously and without fear of retribution, making their families and communities safer.
