9:30am Friday 10th July 2009
A DRUGS den that caused misery to neighbours has been shut down by the police.
David Holden was evicted from his home in Shelley Close on Tuesday afternoon after officers provided evidence proving the use of class A drugs on the premises.
Under the terms of an order from Alton magistrates’ court, Holden is barred from the top floor flat, which is owned by a private landlord, for three months.
One nearby resident, who provided a statement for police, said that they had lost sleep due to the number of disturbances and that the smell of crack cocaine and cannabis had given them headaches.
A closure order was granted under the Antisocial Behaviour Order Act after PC David Woods provided evidence of drug abuse and antisocial behaviour over the last three months.
He said police had visited the flat a number of times in the past 12 months, including January 26 this year when officers were called after receiving reports of fighting and doors being kicked in.
Blood was found on the communal stairwell and crack cocaine found.
Police officers obtained a warrant to search the flat and forensic officers found traces of crack cocaine inside, he said.
Reading a statement, PC Woods said: “Resident A believes flat 28 has ten to 15 visitors a day and it is believed they buy drugs.
“The resident goes on to say that the smell of cannabis and crack cocaine makes him sick and as such gives him headaches.”
PC Woods, an antisocial behaviour field officer, said after the court hearing: “These orders are very important to ensure that neighbours can live in peace.
“We don’t have a large problem, we just have an effective solution that ensures we can take swift action to resolve these issues.
“Locally we feel it’s not just enough to arrest and prosecute an offender with class A drugs, it’s also important that we deal with the problems in the community.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisishampshire.net/trade_directory/