A HOUSING organisation has praised the bravery of residents in a Uttoxeter street after their nightmare neighbour was finally jailed for four months.
Social housing provider in Uttoxeter, Trent and Dove, said it was left with ‘no choice’ but to return to court to seek a resolution to the misery being caused by Jennifer Bowden, of Park Street, to her exasperated neighbours.
Trent and Dove took the step against Bowden, whose tenancy was already subject to a suspended possession order made in September 2011, after she continued to cause serious problems for her neighbours.
At Derby Combined Court, his Honour Judge James Orrel heard that Bowden had failed to uphold the undertaking that she had previously given to the court and further episodes of noise nuisance, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour had taken place.
Neighbours fed up with this ‘aggressive antisocial behaviour’ worked closely with Trent and Dove to gather sufficient evidence to enable the housing association to take the matter to court to seek an eviction order on Bowden.
At the time of the hearing in September, a suspended possession order was given and Bowden gave an undertaking that her behaviour would improve so that she could remain in her property.
However, her behaviour did not improve and despite Mrs Bowden being aware of the hearing last week, she failed to appear.
It was heard that she had not met the terms of the original order and Judge Orrel issued a warrant (in her absence), for her arrest and he sentenced her to four months in prison for breaching her undertaking.
A spokesperson for Trent and Dove said: “Residents involved in this case will understand just how hard it has been for us to finally achieve this result.
“Mrs Bowden has abused her neighbours and they have had to put up with her behaviour over a number of years.
“Due to these brave witnesses, who were prepared to come forward and support us in the original proceedings and those who gave evidence at the recent hearing, we now have a result that means they will at least be able to get on with their lives without the constant harassment they have put up with from this person.
“We would like to think that this sends out a clear message to the minority of people that have no respect for others and think nothing of creating misery for their long suffering neighbours that no matter how long it takes, Trent and Dove will seek to ensure that the strongest possible action is taken against such people.
“We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank those residents who have helped us in this case.”
