A North East house has been hit with a closure order following antisocial behaviour and suspected drug dealing.

The property on Arlington Street, Stockton has been shuttered for three months after Stockton Borough Council (SBC) secured a closure order at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

The Court heard on Tuesday (January 16) how residents living near the Arlington Street, Stockton property would often put up with constant visitors to the building.

Witnesses said “scores of people” would arrive daily to purchase drugs, with transactions mainly taking place through the letterbox.

The Northern Echo: The Arlington Street, Stockton property has been closed for three months after Stockton Borough

They also spoke of how deals would occasionally take place though the first floor window – with a bottle being lowered to the ground by a rope which would be pulled back after money had been deposited.

The court heard how residents were fearful for their safety due to the “intimidating behaviour of the visitors” to the property.

They reported seeing fighting, balaclava-clad people, antisocial behaviour, and public urination.

Several residents said they were unable to sleep due to the noise created by those coming to the property. 

Councillor Norma Stephenson, SBC’s cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said: “Long term residents of the street have told us that the character of the street has changed in the past year ‘from a good place to live to somewhere that’s changed for the worse.’

“This is not acceptable. People have an absolute right to live their lives in peace and not be scared to leave their own homes or to walk down their own street.

“I hope this closure order sends the message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our communities. 

"I'd like to thank our Civic Enforcement Officers and ward councillors for their hard work and dedication to help secure the closure order alongside the local policing team."

Witnesses, including older residents, said that they purposefully went out of their way to access local amenities, so they did not have to walk past the property. 

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SBC, working with Cleveland Police, secured a Closure Order on the property.

Chief Inspector Dan Heron of Stockton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “This is joint working at its best. The community give us intelligence in confidence and together the police and the council work together to secure a closure order which allows us to shut the house down.

“No street should suffer due to crime or anti-social behaviour. If you would like to report something to the police, please call us on 101 so we can act on it. Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.”