‘Neighbours from hell’ thrown out

RELIEVED residents are celebrating after neighbours from hell were evicted after totting up more than 50 criminal convictions in four years.

Amanda Burke and her three sons left neighbours living in fear.

Anti-social behaviour officers said the family was one of the worst they have ever dealt with.

Police and council officers served a possession order at the Walters Drive property in Fitton Hill yesterday — but the family had already left leaving the three-bed, semi-detached house stripped bare.

Anti-social behaviour officer Lorraine Kenny said: “The level of fear in the area is unbelievable. They are one of the worst families I have ever dealt with but they also had the most offers of intervention and support.

“They can present themselves as homeless if they feel they have a case for that or they can go in the private housing sector.

ACTION

“It’s very unlikely that a social housing group will rehouse them now but they were made aware of all this and have failed to take any of that on board.

“Other action will follow with other families if they continue to misbehave.

“We hope anti-social families start to take notice that if you don’t take action, we will.”

It’s the third eviction on the crime-hit street in a year, with another family also thrown out for anti-social behaviour and a closure order served on a drugs den.

The family had lived at the social housing property — owned by Places for People Homes — for four years, during which two of the children were served with ASBOs.

Lewis O’Connor (15) is still the subject of a five-year ASBO, prohibiting him from entering many parts of Fitton Hill and associating with 17 individuals. A 21-year-old was no longer living at the property, while the other son is aged 19.

Authorities said there had been many attempts to change their behaviour but offences from off-road bike nuisance to burglaries continued.

The possession order was imposed at Oldham County Court on August 13.

Steve Adams, the landlord’s assistant head of anti-social behaviour, said: “Anti-social and criminal behaviour by Amanda Burke’s family has had a negative effect on the community of Fitton Hill.

“Unfortunately, Amanda Burke’s failure to control her children or accept offers of assistance left us with no alternative.”

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. They are bad — neighbours from hell. There’s been lots of problems with burglaries and music at all hours with the windows open.

“There are a lot of pensioners around here and everyone is delighted they are gone. It’s wonderful and maybe we can all get some peace and quiet now.”

But another neighbour had sympathy and said it was not the mother who caused trouble.

She added: “It was the lads who were the problem. They brought round lads from other areas. The mother is quite a nice girl and was really upset and pretty hurt.

“I think she’s staying with her sister — and will appeal.”