A NUISANCE neighbour who has caused 'years' of suffering for other residents in his block has been banned from his own flat.

Borough of Poole (BOP) officials secured a three-month extension to an existing closure order for the property at Avenel Way, Poole.

The previous closure order, which was implemented after numerous reports of large groups of people and antisocial behaviour coming from the property, banned anyone - except flat owner Peter Hewitt - from entering the apartment. However, the latest temporary order has been extended to include Hewitt himself.

Speaking at Poole Magistrates Court on Monday (April 23), solicitor Johanne McNamara said neighbours had continued to "feel intimidated" by the actions of Hewitt and visitors to the flat.

CCTV footage was also produced which showed a number of individuals congregating outside Hewitt's apartment and appearing to enter the property, in disregard of the outstanding court ban.

Ms McNamara said: "Mr Hewitt is unwilling or unable to control his visitors.

"He has clearly been warned of the consequences of his actions. It is only when he is there that others attend the property."

The court also heard that council officials had engaged with 32-year-old Hewitt, and that in January, this year, he was given another chance to get his house in order.

Despite this, neighbours still reported groups gathering outside the property, people shouting and swearing at them, intimidation, and their doors being banged on through the night and into the early hours of the morning.

A number of elderly residents and families with young children live in the area, the court was told.

District Judge Stephen Nicholls granted the three month extension to the closure order, which will come into affect - temporarily banning Hewitt from his own property - once it is served.

After the initial closure order was served in January, Hewitt's neighbours told the Daily Echo they had faced a "nightmare."

One said: "It's been going on for years and years.

"It's just been absolutely terrible - a nightmare."

Another resident told the Echo: "It's a big group of people and it's just really nasty, unpleasant anti-social behaviour.

"The people living in flats around his get it very badly."