Tower block hell - where 'teeth are knocked out' and locals 'perform lewd acts'
Fed-up inhabitants of a troubled tower block claimed they were subjected to brutal attacks, and witnessed people having sex in bin stores just metres away from their home.
Ascot Court in Birmingham has been plagued by "non-stop" anti-social and violent behaviour for years, according to residents. One man reported having his teeth knocked out in a shocking unprovoked attack, as he was repeatedly struck with a metal bar.
A graphic image showed the resident's front teeth set back, along with a gap and a cracked tooth in his bloodied mouth.
The victim of the alleged assault at the start of March said he now believed people's "lives are in danger", and recalled how he heard a stranger approach him from behind on the landing of the flats just moments before he was struck.
One resident reported losing teeth and having some knocked back after an unprovoked attack with a metal bar (BPM MEDIA)Describing what happened next, he told BirminghamLive: "I was hit from behind, twice with a scaff bar.
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"Because I didn't go down, he's hit me from the back. He's hitting my left arm and, because I've still not gone down, they all steamed me, punching and kicking me to the floor.
"The one geezer broke my one tooth then punched me in the mouth again. They whacked me in the mouth with a bar.
"I've got one broke which was snapped, I spat that out. They thought I'd pick that up, but I said: 'Not after it's been on the floor up there'."
At one point during the alleged attack, another neighbour from a different floor "dived on him" in a bid to protect him - leading them to begin "punching and kicking her".
The attackers reportedly kicked and punched him before turning their attention to a neighbour who intervened (BPM MEDIA)A neighbour - reportedly the one that intervened - said she also had to deal with sleepless nights, "violence every day" and was unable to enter her home without intimidation.
"It's constant arguing, drugs taken on the stairs, you can't even come to the block without being intimidated by them being on the stairs", she said.
"They're even taking heroin and sexual acts near the bin shoots. Some of the neighbours don't want to come forward because of how violent these people are."
One man doing painting work at the block almost injured himself when he accidentally stumbled across a knife stashed away in the communal bin area, she added.
Issues reported previously at the tower block included people urinating on the floor and blood stains being left on corridor walls.
Previous issues at Ascot Court include people urinating on the communal floors (BPM MEDIA)
Blood stains have been seen on corridor walls (BPM MEDIA)In a statement, Birmingham City Council admitted it is "extremely concerned about the attack on the residents at Ascot Court and others being threatened."
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It said: "We work closely with West Midlands Police [WMP] and will not tolerate anti-social behaviour, residents being threatened or property destroyed. We will investigate this as a matter of urgency working with WMP.
"Everyone living in Ascot Court and all our properties has a right to feel safe in their own home, especially if they are old or vulnerable. The safety of all our tenants remains our top priority. If anyone feels threatened or witnesses criminal behaviour they should ring the police immediately."
West Midlands Police meanwhile said officers from the Weoley Neighbourhood Team have the area "listed in their daily patrols", and are giving "special attention" to tower blocks where there are reports of anti-social behaviour.
The alleged assault on the resident was investigated, with a suspect interviewed, police said.
He was released without charge due to "insufficient evidence", but a spokesperson added the force "always act on new information" and was appealing to anyone who has details that could progress the investigation to get in touch, quoting crime number 20/227338/23.
A spokesperson added: We’ve been listening to people’s concerns around ASB and drug dealing and have dropped letters to residents detailing how to get in touch with the neighbourhood team about this."
Local officers also host 'Pop Up' police stations within the area where locals can talk to them and raise issues.
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