On 3 May 2005 Longhurst Housing Association successfully demoted one of their tenants. The District Judge at Boston County Court was happy that it was reasonable to demote the tenancy, given the long history of the case and the other intervening measures that were being taken by the Police.

The demotion was of a longstanding secure tenant and was based on the anti-social behaviour of her five children and, in particular, the eldest son who is currently 14 years old.

Neighbours of the tenant had been the subject of abuse, broken windows, stones thrown at their properties and cars, plants being ripped out of gardens, flowers being trampled upon, graffiti and some neighbours’ children were bullied.

In particular, the eldest son terrorised an elderly widow by following her up the road when she was visiting her late husband’s grave, by swearing at her. He also, on another occasion jumped out from behind a headstone in the cemetery to scare her. The child was believed to be the ringleader of a local gang of youths who also engaged in similar behaviour. When challenged, the child made threats against neighbours, used abusive language and damaged cars in the area.

Behaviour of this nature continued for over 12 months and, at the end of 2004, the child entered into an Acceptable Behaviour Contract at Boston Police Station.

This agreement was finally entered into after a number of fires had been started by the child in neighbours’ bins and on communal areas. The child had also taken to vandalising public property and breaking glass.

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