Noisy youth banned from own house

Scott Wallace has been banned from his own home

A Fife youth is said to have become the first person in Scotland to be banned from his own house under tough anti-social behaviour laws.

Scott Wallace, 18, from Leven, had been "terrorising" his elderly neighbours in a block of four flats for months.

Fife Police said they had obtained a closure order to prevent him returning home for three months.

If his behaviour does not improve in that time, police can apply to have it extended for another three months.

Mr Wallace regularly had about 20 people in his flat while playing music at a high volume, police said.

The police and council will take action against those who continually behave in a way that destroys the quality of life of others Supt Tony Fitzpatrick Fife Police

One of his neighbours is a 94-year-old woman whose health is said to have been affected.

Richard Martin, who lives downstairs from the teenager, said he was looking forward to some peace and quiet - and the chance to play his piano - following the court ruling.

The 98-year-old said he did not like making trouble for other people.

"You cannot have dead quiet all day long, that's impossible," he said.

"There are the normal noises of the house, but the noise was always this thump, thump, thump - and it was always the same tape."

Sixty people attended a public meeting called by local councillor Andrew Keddie to discuss the problem.

Formal complaints

Superintendent Tony Fitzpatrick, anti-social behaviour coordinator for Fife Police, said: "The elderly people, who have put up with this intolerable situation for a long time, will finally be able to get some peace and quiet.

"These cases are quite difficult to deal with in many ways, as people feel intimidated and frightened to make formal complaints.

"The police have been monitoring this situation in Leven as it developed.

Richard Martin said he was looking forward to peace and quiet

"Because the neighbours continued to keep us informed, we were able to build up a very strong case to allow us to make use of the new powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2004 and obtain a closure order."

He added: "We hope this will send out a strong message to the law abiding members of the community that the police and council will take action against those who continually behave in a way that destroys the quality of life of others.

"The consequence could be that the offenders find themselves out of their home - until they can behave properly."

Councillor Keddie, chairman of Fife's community safety partnership, added: "This new power will aid and assist us in preventing anti-social behaviour in the communities of Fife.

"I hope that peace and quiet will now return to the elderly people and other neighbours who have suffered so much from this young man's behaviour."