Neighbourhood watched!

ALL yours...Stuart Melling is presented with his certificate by Carol Matthews, chief executive of Guinness Northern Counties

Landlord steps in to solve street dispute Neighbourhood watch

A PAIR of Failsworth residents who stood up to their abusive, violent neighbour have won national recognition from local housing association Guinness Northern Counties.

Stuart Melling (32) and his former partner Sarah Radcliffe (29) endured years of extreme anti-social behaviour from a 41-year-old grandmother on the same street.

Their courage in refusing to be intimidated by her has earned them first place at Guinness Northern Counties’ annual Standing Together Awards, which honours residents who have taken a stand against anti-social behaviour.

Since moving in to their Evening Street home in 2006, they endured continual loud music at all hours of the day and night, domestic arguments, shouting, swearing and screaming emanating from the neighbouring property almost every week.

She also physically assaulted Mr Melling, giving him a black eye and a cut cheek. Miss Radcliffe was kicked in the back of the leg.

The couple eventually enlisted the help of the neighbour’s landlord, Guinness Northern Counties, which has invested in specially-trained staff to deal with anti-social behaviour.

Working together they took action through the courts, securing an injunction in July, 2008.

After a further incident around Christmas, 2009, Mr Melling fought on and in August, 2010, the association secured a suspended possession order, granting it the right to evict the neighbour if she breaks the conditions of the injunction again.

Mr Melling, who collected the joint award at ceremony in Brighouse, near Leeds, has remained at the property they owned together and refuses to be driven out.

The decorator said: “The day we moved in here, someone in the same street told me that 12 people had moved out of the same property in only 10 years.

“Maybe I’m stubborn but why should people like her win?”

Mr Melling was full of praise for the help and support he had received from Guinness Northern Counties.

He said: “The courts have let me down every step of the way. The law is loaded against people like me.

“If it hadn’t been for the support I’ve had from Guinness Northern Counties, I’d have got nowhere.

“They’ve been absolutely superb.”

Carol Matthews, Guinness Northern Counties chief executive, said: “It takes incredible guts and determination to stand up to people who are terrorising you and your neighbours on an almost daily basis in a way most of us can hardly imagine.

“The vast majority of people in this situation are unable, for a whole host of reasons, to face the perpetrator down in the way that Stuart and Sarah have.

“We are totally and utterly committed to supporting them and others in the same situation.

“I just hope these awards help to send a small message of thanks to courageous people like Stuart and Sarah, as well as reassuring others in the same situation that we are on their side and will do whatever it takes to help them win.”