A MAN has been handed a hefty fine this week after reports of excessive noise, fighting and drunken behaviour at his North East home that has seen 18 separate incidents in the 18 months he has lived there.

Paul Sawyers, formerly of Rhodesia Road, Redhouse, Sunderland, was ordered to pay more than £400 for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice issued in June last year.

Sunderland City Council’s anti-social behaviour team were first made aware of Sawyers after reports of excessive noise, fighting and drunken behaviour at Mr Sawyers’ privately rented home on Rhodesia Road in 2021.

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The complaints were confirmed by witness statements, noise recordings obtained via the city council’s noise monitoring application and Northumbria Police records - outlining 18 incidents since Mr Sawyers moved into the property 18 months earlier.

In June 2021, Mr Sawyers was issued with a Community Protection Notice, which prohibited Mr Sawyers, members of his household, or visitors to his address from pursuing any course of conduct likely to cause nuisance or distress to the local community. 

Later, neighbours reported that the premises had been used by Paul Sawyers and his visitors for regular gatherings involving excessive alcohol consumption resulting in disorder and noise disturbances through the night and into the early hours of the next morning.

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Mr Sawyers' tenancy was terminated shortly after.

Sunderland City Council’s anti-social behaviour team eventually applied for a Partial Closure Order against the premises, which was granted by South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.

Mr Sawyers’ case for breaching the Community Protection Notice was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 17 May 2022.

Mr Sawyer did not attend and was found guilty in his absence.

He was issued a fine of £180, Victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £250.

Following the court appearance, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Claire Rowntree, said: "No one deserves to be subjected to anti-social behaviour around their own homes and it is shocking to hear what a negative impact this one household has had on an entire street.

"I would like to thank members of the public for coming forward, showing their community spirit and demonstrating how if we all work and act together, we can make our streets and neighbourhoods happier and more peaceful places."

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