TWO teenagers have been placed under a draconian banning order to stop them subjecting a vulnerable pensioner to a campaign of physical and emotional abuse in his own home.

Reece Huggins, 18, and Barnaby Monk, 19, broke into a 65-year-old Halstead man’s home late at night, forcing him into his bedroom so they could take drugs in his living room, a court was told.

Colchester County Court heard the teenagers subjected the Greenfields Housing Association resident to physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse, which included being sprayed in the face with aerosols, and having money stolen.

John Smith, chairman of the Braintree Pensioner’s Action group said the allegations were “shocking” and showed that residents needed to keep an eye on elderly neighbours.

He said: “It’s terrible, particularly as he had mental health problems. There are three factors really - his age, his mental health problems and loneliness.

“All the problems of today that need to be tackled.”

Although Huggins and Monk were not charged with any criminal offence, Greenfields Housing Association obtained an injunction from the court which could see them jailed for two years if they:

  •  Enter the vicinity of the resident’s home.
  • Cause nuisance, annoyance or stress to any Greenfields resident, employee or agent.
  • Use or threaten to use violence to any Greenfields resident, employee or agent.
  • Use abusive or offensive language towards, or which may be heard by, any Greenfields resident, employee or agent.
  • Intimidate or act in any intimidating manner towards any Greenfields resident, employee or agent.
  • Harass or attempt to harass, physically or verbally, any Greenfields resident, employee or agent.

Sandra Crosby, Greenfields’ housing director, said: “We have a zero-tolerance to any form of abuse, and will work with partners to do all we can to resolve issues and take action, where needed.

“We want our residents to feel safe and secure in their homes, at all times.”

Halstead Gazette:

 

A SHOCKING catalogue of abuse was presented to Colchester County Court after neighbours complained of a noise nuisance coming from the flat.

Greenfields Housing Association called in police and social services, collecting evidence and regularly asking the young people, including two girls, to leave, only for them to return again, the court was told.

During his ordeal the man, who suffers from mental health problems, was sectioned for two weeks, possibly because his medication was missing.

Greenfields went to court to obtain interim injunctions in December, which were immediately issued as the judge said the “threat of harm is so high”.

A repeat hearing was issued last month, which Huggins and Monk failed to attend.

The judge then issued two outright injunctions, each with a life of 12 months and a ‘Power of Arrest’ attached.

A Greenfields spokesman said the 65-year-old was now in close contact with the community mental health team and his GP.

His neighbourhood co-ordinator said that there has been “dramatic change in his behaviour, and he is taking better care of himself – physically and mentally.”

The resident, who asked not to be named, said: “If it wasn’t for Greenfields, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I had no idea they helped with things like that.”