Two nightmare flats that saw females “visiting in their underwear”, vicious dogs roaming communal areas and visitors vomiting in the hallway have been shuttered.

40 and 50 Fraser Grove, both Thirteen flats in Hartlepool, have been closed down for three months over antisocial behaviour and drug and criminal activity. 

Teesside Magistrates approved the closure orders following applications from Hartlepool Council on behalf of the multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team.

The court - which awarded the council costs totalling £4,598 - heard how both tenants allowed the misery-making behaviour to be carried out by having “frequent visitors throughout the day and into the early hours of the morning”.

At 40 Fraser Grove, there was drug use from the flat, a strong smell of drugs within the property and the presence of drug paraphernalia within the communal area. 

There was frequent noise nuisance, including loud music, parties, shouting through letterboxes, slamming doors, and letting vicious dogs road free within the communal area. 

Smoke alarms would constantly go off due to drug smoking - with buzzers “continuously being pressed by visitors” and others trying the door handles of other flats. 

Rubbish was dumped in the communal area and courtyard, with visitors vomiting in the communal hallway. 

Residents also reported having their letterboxes vandalised and post snatched. 

Meanwhile, at 50 Fraser Grove, drug dealing, loud music and parties, and fighting were all raised as concerns. 

One incident saw the smashing of a window at a neighbouring flat - occupied at the time by the tenant of 50 Fraser Grove - by two men armed with an axe and machete who were demanding money.

Male visitors would “bang on doors and make threats” trying to get into other properties, while female visitors would visit the property in their underwear. 

Drunk visitors would also demand to be let into the building whilst being abusive and threatening, with visitors “constantly ringing all of the buzzers” to be let in.

Teenagers were also being allowed into the communal area to smoke cannabis.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of the council, said: “I am pleased that these two applications for Closure Orders have been granted as this sends out a strong message that we are not prepared to tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour that makes other people’s lives a misery.

“We have now secured ten Closure Orders on residential properties since July last year and we want to assure the law-abiding majority of Hartlepool residents that we will take continue to take strong action to protect their right to live in peace, free from fear and intimidation.”

Thirteen’s director of operations Kay Glew said: "Ensuring that our customers feel safe in their home and within the community where they live remains our priority. 

“We won’t tolerate our homes being used for crime and anti-social behaviour, as we know the impact behaviour like this can have on those who live close by.

“We are pleased the Closure Orders have been granted for two of Thirteen’s homes, and to ensure we help residents feel safe, we’ve recently installed CCTV within the building.

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“We’ll continue to work in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council and Cleveland Police to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime, and we hope that the local community in Fraser Grove feel reassured that we have taken action.”

A/Inspector Chris Phelan from Hartlepool’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “We will continue to work with the Council and Thirteen and together we will take robust action to ensure residents are able to live in peace. 

“As always, we would urge anyone suffering in their community as a result of others’ behaviour to contact us, so that we can work to resolve the issues.”