Tenant gets suspended sentence

A Birmingham council tenant has been given a suspended prison sentence after he persistently disturbed his neighbours with a series of late night cider-drinking parties.

Thomas White, a tenant in Heddon Place, part of Ashcroft Sheltered Housing in Nechells, also set fire to his flat on a number of occasions.

The 57-year-old was also threatening and abusive towards residents.

White received the suspended sentence at Birmingham County Court on Tuesday after he breached a court injunction ordering him to stop his anti-social behaviour.

Should he once again ignore the court and act anti-socially in future we will seek to impose the suspended prison sentence without hesitation. Ian McGibbon, from the city's anti-social behaviour unit

The injunction was originally issued in August after staff from the sheltered housing obtained statements from residents about White's behaviour.

But White continued to hold cider-drinking parties and on 31 October he was given a three-month prison sentence.

He appealed and on Tuesday a county court judge suspended his sentence but warned White he faced prison if there were any further breaches.

Ian McGibbon, head of Birmingham's anti-social behaviour unit, said the persistence of the council and residents had paid off.

"Despite our initial action Mr White's behaviour did not improve so we took the action necessary to stop him continuing to cause problems.

"Should he once again ignore the court and act anti-socially in future we will seek to impose the suspended prison sentence without hesitation."