Couple 'destroyed' as neighbour jailed for harassing them re-homed in same flat
A man who was convicted of harassing his neighbours has been rehomed in the same flat after leaving prison.
James Keenan was jailed for harassing Martyn and Jane Slater following multiple incidents between 2019 and 2021.
A five-year restraining order was also put in place against him, preventing him from contacting Mr or Mrs Slater or entering their property.
However, his victims said they are now "mentally destroyed" after Keenan was rehomed in the same property in Ponsonby Terrace in Derby after leaving prison.
Martyn told Derbyshire Live: "I'm not taking any more. It's been horrendous. Absolutely horrendous.
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"It's doing our mental health no good whatsoever and is destroying us. Our family is being torn apart."
A man returned to the same flat in Ponsonby Terrace in Derby (Google Maps)The campaign of harassment began when a hedge was cut from the boundaries of the Slaters' garden, meaning it was now visible from the flat upstairs, where Keenan lived.
Keenan, who the Slaters say they had previously heard "kicking off", began to shout abuse directed at the couple from his balcony.
The abuse then turned into threats to their lives and Jane said the police were called to the property on numerous occasions, including seven times in one day.
Keenan would wield a knife at them from the window, and one on occasion came to the Slaters' front door wielding a bike chain and a hammer. On that occasion, police arrived and arrested him.
When he was locked up for twelve months, Martyn and Jane thought they might finally be able to live well.
However, Keenan was released early and rehomed in the same flat in the supported living complex, St Judith's Court, which is managed by the charity Creative Support.
The restraining order states that Keenan is barred from contacting Martyn or Jane and barred from entering their property, while not specifying he has to remain a certain distance from them.
Police were called to the property on multiple occasions (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Despite this, the Slaters feel it is unfair that Keenan has been rehomed in the same flat.
Housing officers are present on-site at the block, but only until 4.30pm. Martyn says he has been around to confront them about the problem but has been told to ignore it.
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The Slaters have also had contact with Creative Support via email. They were advised in July 2021 that the matter was being taken "extremely seriously" and that "appropriate action" was being taken, but that eviction proceedings are an "extremely lengthy process" and that any action was likely to take a "considerable length of time".
The couple, who say they are living in fear and have not had regular visitors to their house for the last three years, have considered living their home because of their neighbour.
A spokesperson for Creative Support said: "We are aware of issues relating to the neighbour and the ongoing nature of these concerns. We are unable to comment on individual cases relating to our tenants but would like to reassure Mr and Mrs Slater that we are doing all we can to resolve the current situation, in consultation with other agencies.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson, while not being able to comment on individual's licence conditions, said: "Offenders released on licence face strict conditions and probation supervision and will be punished if they break them."
Derbyshire Police said in a statement: "Incidents of anti-social and criminal behaviour can have serious effects on victims and as a force we work hard, along with partners, to tackle this type of behaviour. Neighbourhood crime is a key priority area for the force and extra resources have been moved into our Safer Neighbourhood Teams to bolster the police response to incidents such as this.
"In this particular case, James Keenan was jailed for 12 months on 12 October 2021 at Derby Crown Court after admitting three counts of harassment against three victims, and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, following an incident on 23 July in South Street, Derby.
"On 17 February 2022 an alleged breach of the restraining order was reported to the force, and, after investigation, Keenan was charged and remanded on 3 May. He was dealt with at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates on 27 July where he was handed a conditional discharge by magistrates and ordered to pay costs.
"No further breaches of the restraining order have been reported to the force since that date, however, it is imperative that where incidents of the breach of the order, or any other criminal offence, takes place then it must be reported to the force in order for it be investigated."
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