House in Colne closed for three months after tenants' partying made life 'a living hell' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

House in Colne closed for three months after tenants' partying made life 'a living hell'

11:50am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A HOUSE where tenants held regular parties causing neighbours to suffer a ‘living hell’ has been shut down.

Roxanne and John Ibbotson caused two years of 'absolute misery' with drunken parties, litter, loud swearing and shouting and damage.

Magistrates granted police and Pendle Council an anti-social behaviour closure order on the house in White Grove, Colne, following a raft of complaints.

The house has now been shut down for three months.

Several residents told the court how they endured two years of ‘foul language, screaming and banging’ coming from the house at all times of the day and night.

The court also heard that Ibbotson, 28, had been heard shouting and swearing at her children, who no longer live with her.

Sue Mclane, who was representing Lancashire Constabulary, said: “Miss Ibbotson and her various friends, for just over two years that she has lived at this address, has made the lives of people in the area an absolute misery.

“In asking for a three month closure order we feel the neighbours are entitled to some respite, they have suffered enough and deserve a peaceful Christmas.

“There has been foul language, screaming and banging at all times of the day.”

The court was told that neighbours complained at the start with concerns about the welfare of the children and whether they were being cared for properly, after hearing Ibbotson shouting and swearing at the children, and blaming them for the problems.

The property was being rented privately from Julia Cadman, who lived in St Helens, who the court was told had previously been a foster carer for some of Ibbotson’s children.

Miss Mclane said the landlady had been aware of the problems ‘for a considerable amount of time and has done nothing to address the issue’.

She said: “There is nothing to suggest she is going to improve the quality of her tenants. Hopefully this will get her to realise she has to take responsibility as a landlady.”

PC Karen Isherwood said the problems had been ‘relentless’ for neighbours.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have not had a full nights sleep in just over two years. The impact has been massive. I am self employed so I have struggled to remember things because of the lack of sleep.

“Rubbish was just thrown in the garden. I would say the bin was used about 10 times in the two years. Bin bags and rubbish were just scattered in the garden and there were rats everywhere.

“Since the closure notice went up it has been quiet for the first time in two years. There were periods previously when it was quiet for a little while but you were just waiting for the next thing to happen.

“We tried to talk to them but the response we got was a threat to set our house on fire.”

Another resident, who has lived in the quiet street for 41 years, said: “In all that time I have always got on with the neighbours, but this was the first time I have considered leaving.

“The noise was constant and it affects your sleep pattern and the language was appalling. Everyone in the street is at their wits end, she just has no respect for anybody.

“I tried to write to the landlady on several occasions but got no response at all.

“Our grandchildren visit the house but we have had to stop them from playing out in the garden because of the rubbish, the smell and the rats.

“I am up at 6am for work but it is so hard to get a proper nights sleep. I have found myself falling asleep at the computer.

“For the past two years it has been a living hell. It would be heaven to have a quiet Christmas.”