Legal News

Kettering Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a resident for noise disturbances, under new anti-social behaviour powers.

Lorraine Humphries was served with a Noise Abatement Notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 17 September 2015, which had been repeatedly breached. As a result, the case was taken to court by the Council at a hearing held on 1 November 2016.

Ms Humphries did not attend the hearing and pleaded guilty by post. She was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,668.80, as well as a victim surcharge of £150.

The Court also granted a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which if breached, is an offence for which the offender can go to jail for up to five years.

Residents had complained to the council after disturbances caused as a result of noise from domestic arguments, shouting, screaming and banging.

The council says that this is the first Criminal Behaviour Order issued following action taken by Kettering Borough Council since new anti-social behaviour powers were introduced in 2014.

Kettering Borough Council’s Head of Public Services, Shirley Plenderleith, said:

“This prosecution shows that Kettering will continue to take a firm stance against anyone found to have committed an act of anti-social behaviour –
and, where necessary, will instigate legal proceedings in the Magistrates Court.”


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