Pensioner gets New Year ASBO
10 January 2008
Press release
Pensioner gets New Year ASBO
A pensioner who terrorised her neighbours has been given an Antisocial Behaviour Order.
Catherine Roberts, 71, of North Road, Southall, subjected neighbours and local residents to abusive, racist and threatening behaviour over a prolonged period.
Ealing Homes, who manage council housing on behalf of Ealing Council, applied for the order. They were granted the ASBO on the 3 January by Acton Magistrates.
The court heard how on one occasion Mrs Roberts waved a knife at a man and his seven-year-old daughter.
A local shopkeeper told how his customers had all left his shop in fear after another abusive outburst from Mrs Roberts.
On another occasion the 71-year-old was seen threatening a five-year-old child with an iron bar.
Abdi Osman, Antisocial Behaviour Manager for Ealing Homes, said: “Mrs Roberts’ behaviour had a severe detrimental effect on her neighbours and others in the local community. We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour from our residents and will always seek to take legal action when necessary.”
The ASBO prohibits Mrs Roberts from several forms of antisocial behaviour. These include behaving in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person or persons not of the same household as herself. She must not remain on any premises after being asked to leave. The order also prohibits Mrs Roberts from insulting or using threatening behaviour towards officers carrying out work for Ealing Council or Ealing Homes.
The order is for three years, expiring January 2011.
Notes for editors:
Ealing Homes has been in operation since 2004, managing 19,000 tenants and leaseholder’s properties on behalf of Ealing Council.
It is run by an independent board of directors but Ealing Council is its only shareholder and remains the landlord of the homes.
Ealing Homes is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). An ALMO is a company set up by a
local authority to manage and improve all or part of its housing stock. High performing ALMOs are
eligible for additional funding from the Government.
