North Staffordshire Justice Centre has issued the closure order today
A court has closed down a problem address for three months. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre today found the closure order was necessary at the Aspire property at 7a Hogarth Place, Chesterton.
Harkartar Sanghera, representing Staffordshire Police, said the tenant, Martin Dean, had been visited by an officer on Sunday, July 27 and handed a Closure Notice bundle. He was informed he and other people would not be allowed into the address and he was due in court today (Tuesday, July 29). A closure notice was attached to the front door.
Mr Dean did not attend the court hearing.
Mr Sanghera said there have been a number of incidents at the property including criminal damage, noise complaints and used drug needles have been found in the front garden.
PC Jake Skidmore told the court: “It is quite clear his presence has had a detrimental effect on residents’ wellbeing.”
He added that the police are aware of drug use at the address and he searched a man leaving the property who was found to be in possession of an axe.
Magistrates made the three-month closure order which runs from today.
The property was boarded up straight after the hearing.
Families living close to the address spoke of their relief now Mr Dean has been moved on.
Kyrie Collinson, of Castle Street, said: “It has been a living hell, with people coming and going and needles everywhere. We had somebody with an axe.
“There are a lot of elderly residents in the street. I have had to put cameras up for most of them.
“He has been awful. He spat on people. We are glad he’s been moved out of the street. One of his visitors threatened my husband with a knife. There has been a constant stream of individuals at the address, some with weapons.”