A NUISANCE street drinker who left residents imprisoned in their homes by repeatedly sitting on random doorsteps has been banned from the area.
Michael Williams was described as "a menace" by Middlesbrough Borough Council following problems around Princes Road and Linthorpe Road.
He has been hit with an injunction following work by neighbourhood safety officers in Middlesbrough's selective landlord licensing team.
The 46-year-old has refused help on repeated occasions from neighbourhood safety officers and street wardens, Thirteen's homeless team and Cleveland Police, the council said.
Bad behaviour by Williams, who has been helped on numerous occasions with accommodation and lived in Welton House in Netherfields, includes street begging on Linthorpe Road near to the former Sainsbury's store, urinating in the street, suspected drug dealing and intimidating residents and staff of local businesses.
On one occasion Williams was found drinking on a doorstep on Princes Road, a Police Community Support Officer asked him to move on.
However Williams proceeded to simply move onto another doorstep then another and another each time he was asked.
It was repeatedly explained to Williams that it was not acceptable to sit drinking on the doorsteps of people he did not know, to which the PCSO was told "f*** off, get the f***ing bobbies ya whinging c***".
On another occasion he replied to a PCSO's request for him to move by shouting "for f***'s sake I'm not f***ing moving, just f*** off".
Overall he had been warned by the authorities about his behaviour on around 50 occasions. He has previously signed an acceptable behaviour contract which he has continued to flout.
The result of the order obtained at Teesside Magistrates' Court means that Williams cannot enter the area bounded by Linthorpe Road, Borough Road, Union Street and Parliament Road, as well as a section of Southfield Road, for 12 months. If he does enter the area he will be committing a criminal offence.
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "It's not acceptable that the good people around Princes Road have this character and his cronies on their doorsteps drinking and getting lairy.
"The message I want to get to the residents and businesses getting angry and annoyed about these nuisances is that we are on your side and we'll take whatever action necessary.
"Our Neighbourhood Safety Officers have again done a great job in getting another banning order on someone behaving in a really bad way. People should be assured if they have a problem they can contact these Council officers in complete confidence."
Jim Langley, prosecuting solicitor for Middlesbrough Council, said: "Injunctions of this nature are very much a last resort. Invariably they are only sought when all other avenues of assistance have been rejected.
"If individuals do not engage with the council and the services they provide we cannot stand by as a responsible authority and allow such behaviour to continue."
- To report anti-social behaviour call 01642 726001 or email asbunit@middlesbrough.gov.uk. To report a crime or criminal activity, call Cleveland Police on 101 or in an emergency 999.
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