IT was once fondly dubbed a “secret hideaway” by locals thanks to its friendly community vibe and lush green surroundings.
But now residents in Coalside Avenue in Billesley, Birmingham, are being terrorised by a neighbour from hell, whose disturbing antics are destroying this once quaint cul-de-sac.
The man, dubbed a “living nightmare’, hurls sexual insults at innocent children, spits at residents as they go about their business and starts random fires outside people’s front doors.
The tirade of anti-social behaviour has left residents too scared to leave their homes, while others have resorted to antidepressants to cope with the stress.
Diane Buswell, 62, says vulnerable people in the sheltered housing complex have been desperately trying to evict the man for the past 18 months.
She told Fabulous: “It’s been horrendous. Some people are so scared they are literally prisoners in their own homes. I don’t go outside unless I’m in a group.
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“Since this man moved in he has spat at people, tipped our garden chairs over and started fires outside people’s homes.”
She added: “This is a quiet complex for vulnerable people and now we can’t go outside.
“He bangs his door constantly and shouts awful abuse at us calling us horrific names.
“My grandson lives with me and when he goes outside this man shouts at him ‘go back and f**k your gran.’
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“My two younger grandkids can’t come over to visit me because I’m scared of what he’ll do.
“At Easter, the residents held an Easter egg hunt for the grandchildren and this man just opened his window and spat at people as they walked past his house.
“He’s a living nightmare.”
After failing on numerous occasions to have the man booted out of his home, residents raised £1,600 to buy CCTV.
But they were forced to scrap the plan when the council said there was no one to monitor the cameras.
Diane has now turned amateur detective and secretly films her neighbour’s disturbing behaviour in a desperate bid to strengthen the case to have him booted out.
In one video the man is seen deliberately banging the doors of his bin shed repeatedly before flicking the middle-finger at residents sitting outside.
In another he is seen hurling a rubbish bag onto the communal garden.
One video shows the man repeatedly clapping and bellowing as he walks past people’s doors.
Another resident Jo Backster, 58, said the stress has caused her to take antidepressants and sleeping tablets.
She said: "We can't live with this, it's outrageous. There are two people living next door who don't come out because they are scared.
"The council are not doing their duty of care to these people and myself. When he is out, that is the only time we have peace.
“We are just living in a nightmare. He is disturbing everyone here."
Residents feel the area has been “neglected’ by authorities and has become a magnet for drug dealers and criminals.
Graham Maskell, 73, said: “Coke, marijuana, whatever – they will flog it. It's pure neglect. We don't feel secure at all, I certainly don't. I could be coming home from bowling and I could get mugged.
“Recently my birdbath was destroyed and a bench was smashed to a pulp.”
Other residents claim they also saw a couple having sex in the car park.
Between January and April this year, 18 crimes were recorded in the small cul-de-sac.
They include six anti-social behaviour crimes, five public order offences, two burglaries, two criminal damage and arson offences, two violence or sexual offences and one vehicle crime.
West Midlands Police say they are “aware” of the ongoing situation.
A spokesperson said: "We have taken action and investigated the incidents reported to us, and are working with Birmingham City Council on a long-term resolution.
"We know the importance of feeling secure in your own home and understand how unsettling it is if you don't feel it is a safe place to be.
“The council have issued an injunction and local neighbourhood officers remain in regular contact with the residents."
Birmingham City Council added: "We are very sorry to hear about the impact that this person's actions have had on the residents' lives.
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"All our residents should be able to live in peace without fear of harassment, abuse or intimidation.
“Given the history it is essential that any anti-social behaviour or criminal activity such as drug taking is reported to the police immediately who will be in a position to enforce the injunction and increase patrols to the area.”
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