Drinking den closed down after neighbours complain

David Jones, a tenant at 7 Rombalds Terrace in Armley, Leeds was served with a premises closure order at Leeds Magistrates’ Court after an application by Leeds City Council.

The court heard how Jones had allowed the property to be used by several people, sometimes as many as 10 at a time, as a drinking den, forcing neighbours to endure the constant use of foul language, threats and intimidation.

Many of the incidents at the house were also witnessed by children leaving the nearby primary school.

The council’s anti-social behaviour team supported by Pudsey neighbourhood policing team (NPT), took action following complaints from Rombalds Terrace neighbours.

Councillor Peter Gruen, chair of Safer Leeds, said: “I would like to commend the local residents who came forward and provided evidence for this case.

“It can be intimidating to have someone behaving badly living near you.

“I would urge anyone else who is suffering in silence to come forward if they have any issues with anti-social neighbours and report them.

“This is a good result, and I am pleased that we have been able to provide an immediate stop to the foul behaviour at this house.”

Inspector Mark Bownass, of Leeds west inner NPT, said: “This is an excellent result for the residents whose quality of life has been badly affected for too long by repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour linked to this property.

“This case again clearly illustrates the sort of action we can take alongside our partners in the council to tackle unacceptable behaviour in our communities.

“Residents have a vital role to play in helping us to do that and we need people to stand up and be counted and give evidence against those responsible.

“We hope this latest action will serve as a clear warning to those who refuse to listen to advice and persist in making peoples’ lives a misery.”

The order was secured at court earlier this month and covers the 11th problem property in the Armley and Bramley areas to be shut down following action by the police and council in the last three years.