A FAMILY who subjected their neighbours to two years of abuse, intimidation and vandalism have been evicted.

Susan Arnold and her family were ordered out of their terraced house in Newby Road, Breightmet, after neighbours reported a catalogue of anti-social behaviour.

Bolton at Home collated a raft of complaints over the two-year period including:

  • Threats, harassment and intimidation
  • Foul and abusive language
  • Breaking neighbours’ windows, spraying graffiti and other criminal damage
  • Assaulting a police officer and harassing police community support officers
  • Threats to local organisations, including a leisure centre and a lyouth club
  • Racist abuse and drug taking
  • Fights and arguments at the house and in the street
  • Allowing rubbish and debris to collect at the front of the house.

In November, the family were placed under a strict court order and warned they would be evicted if they did not put a stop to their abusive ways after 10 neighbours gave evidence against them.

A judge at Manchester County Court made them the subject of a two-year suspended possession order, affecting Miss Arnold, aged 50, her partner, Raymond Gibson, aged 37, her eldest son, Alan Carney, aged 19, and two teenage daughters and a teenage son, who were not named.

But the family, who have lived at the house for the last seven years, were evicted yesterday after they failed to comply with the order and were found to be intimidating witnesses.

Neighbours Christopher and Pauline Taylor, who live on the opposite side of the road, said they were relieved.

Mr Taylor, aged 62, said: “They were throwing bricks at our house and at our car.

“They abused and threatened people and climbed over fences into gardens. They were neighbours from hell.”

Mrs Taylor, aged 59, added: “They were louts. They often had gangs of people in their garden and in the road drinking beer and shouting.”

But another resident, who asked not to be named, felt the eviction was harsh. “It’s sad, really. It’s the kids I feel sorry for,” he said.

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said: “We took action against the family following anti-social behaviour that included threats of violence, neighbour intimidation, verbal abuse and damage to property.

“The family also failed to change their behaviour despite offers of support through rehabilitation.”

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour of any kind and we are delighted to see a positive outcome to this case, especially for the victims and witnesses who have shown great courage throughout in reporting incidents and providing evidence.”

Insp Mark Peary, from the Bolton East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I cannot praise highly enough the commitment and courage displayed by the local community in dealing with the issues posed by this family.”