Property in Thornaby shut down following anti-social behaviour and drug use

A house at the centre of anti-social behaviour and suspected drug dealing has been shut down in Thornaby.

On Thursday 4 April Teesside Magistrates' Court heard that residents living near the property at Teesdale Terrace had witnessed scores of visitors constantly visiting the property at all times of day and night to sell and use drugs there.

Witnesses also reported several instances of fighting and aggressive behaviour at the address. In one incident a neighbour witnessed a man chasing another man out of the property with a large knife and heard arguing coming from the property, which included threats to kill.

One witness said they had seen a man pull up to the house and smash a window at the property, while another saw paint thrown at one of the windows and spoke of a "horrendous" foul odour coming from the house.

The court was told that local residents felt scared to leave their homes and they were already in poor health with significant medical issues that were not helped by the behaviour at the property, with one reporting the negative impact on their mental health.

Some residents also said they struggled to sleep at night and put background sound on in their home to drown out the noise from the property.

Cleveland Police, in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, secured a Closure Order on the property, which will now be inaccessible to anyone for three months. 

Inspector Dan Heron, from Stockton's Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Working alongside our partners, we obtained the closure of the property due to persistent violence, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour from the occupants living there and the severe impact it was having on the local community.

"Residents should not have to put up with criminality occurring in their neighbourhood. By coming forward to report this behaviour we have been able to work with members of the public to ensure positive action is taken.

"I want to take this opportunity to encourage other residents in Stockton to please keep providing information and trust that we will also act on it to make your area a much safer and enjoyable place to live.

"To report a crime please contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Carolyn Nice, the Council's Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: "As well as the impact on their health, residents in this street told us there had been a strong sense of community which had since "gone downhill" due to the anti-social behaviour at this property.

"It's unacceptable that people live in fear in their own homes, and I hope this closure order sends a clear message that nuisance and criminal activity will not be tolerated in our Borough.

"I would like to thank the residents for their bravery in coming forward with their statements, as well as the hard work and efforts of our Civic Enforcement Officers and local policing team to secure this closure order."