Noisy Neighbour Given ASBO
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A noisy neighbour who brought misery to the lives of local residents in a Newcastle street has been given a two-year anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).Paul Lloyd of Hampstead Road, Benwell, was given the ASBO at a court hearing on Monday, August 20. The application for the order was made by the City Council’s Environmental Health department.
Following numerous complaints from local residents about loud music coming from Mr Lloyd’s flat, Newcastle City Council's Noise Team served several notices for noise nuisance, prohibiting any further noise which would cause unreasonable disturbance to his neighbours. Despite this action, the noise continued and so did the complaints.
Unreasonable noise disturbance was witnessed by the Noise Team three further times in the early hours of the morning with the thud of the bass beat from the rock ballads being played, making sleep impossible for his neighbours.
On one occasion, officers from the Night-time Noise Team attended Hampstead Road at 4am. They found that the noise from Lloyd's flat was more than six times louder than it should be.
To deal with the problem Magistrates warrants were obtained on three occasions by officers from Regulatory Services and Public Protection to seize all the noise making equipment from Lloyd.
At the hearing, Lloyd pleaded guilty to all four charges of failing to comply with the Noise Abatement Notices and on 20 August 2009, after hearing the case, magistrates imposed a two year conditional discharge in respect of each of the four offences.
An anti-social behaviour order on Mr Lloyd was imposed for a period of two years that bans him from playing loud music. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £100.00 and ordered forfeiture of all his music equipment. Upon hearing that his equipment had been forfeited, Mr Lloyd made it clear to the court that he was not happy about this and left the court.
Stephen Savage, Director of Regulatory Services and Public Protection for Newcastle, said, “We will not tolerate any sort of behaviour which has a negative affect on other people's quality of life. This ASBO shows we'll take appropriate action if necessary. The conditions imposed by the magistrates reflect the extent of Mr Lloyd’s anti-social behaviour to which the local residents should never have to tolerate.”
Councillor Anita Lower, portfolio holder for Community Safety and Regulation, said “I urge Newcastle residents to report any instances of anti-social behaviour via the Neighbourhood Helpline 0300 1000 101. The ASBO that Mr Lloyd received sends a clear warning out to those who choose not consider their neighbours quality of life that they may be the next in line.”
The conditions of Paul Lloyd’s ASBO prevent him from:
- Causing or permitting any noise so as to cause nuisance or annoyance to one or more persons not living in the same household as himself, nor incite or encourage others to do so within the area of Newcastle upon Tyne.
- Causing or permitting any noise to be audible outside of his home between the hours of 11.00pm and 07.00am within the area of Newcastle upon Tyne.
- Acting in a manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as himself, nor incite or encourage others to do so within the area of Newcastle upon Tyne.
- Engaging in or threatening to engage in conduct that is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to persons not of the same household as himself, nor incite or encourage others to do so within the area of Newcastle upon Tyne.
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