A Council tenant has been banned from entering his flat for a period of three months following years of disruptive behaviour and suspected drug dealing. The Council secured a three-month Closure Order at Mansfield Magistrates Court on 10th April 2019, which means that no one can enter the property at 18 Redforde Park Avenue in Retford, including the tenant, Lee Charles.

The 46-year-old is suspected of dealing drugs from the property due to the high number of people that frequently visited the flat, sometimes several times a day and often for just a short period, in addition to drug paraphernalia being found in and around the flat. The Closure Order follows years of anti-social behaviour that included noise and shouting, which disturbed fellow residents of the block of flats and had a detrimental impact upon their health.

The Council obtained a Suspended Possession Order in December 2017 in an attempt to force Mr Charles to comply with the terms of his Tenancy Agreement. However, following a lull in activity between December 2017 and May 2018, activity at the flat increased again and the ASB returned to previous levels. Alan Heppenstall, ASB Team Leader at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “The Council’s ASB Team has worked in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, our Housing Team and local residents to secure this Closure Order. It means that after a prolonged period of unsettling behaviour, Lee Charles and his associates will not be able to return to the address for a period of at least three months.

“We’d like to thank residents for their patience and assistance while this matter was investigated and brought to a successful conclusion. The evidence and information they provided was invaluable and allowed us to make this successful application.”

Alison Craig, Head of Housing at Bassetlaw District Council, added: “Preventing someone from entering their home is a last resort before taking possession of the property. However, the Council felt that it has exhausted all other ways of forcing Charles to change his behaviour and an application for a Closure Order was the only option left available.
I hope that the residents of Redforde Park Avenue are now able to enjoy a normal and peaceful life.”

PC Nathan Thomas, from Retford Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: “It’s vital that Nottinghamshire Police work in partnership with Bassetlaw Council and local residents to obtain Closure Orders like this one.
There have been long-standing issues regarding this property and its tenant Lee Charles. We’re pleased at the court’s decision to impose the Closure Notice and take action against those who commit anti-social behaviour in Retford.”