Asbos after row ends in court
A man and woman have been given anti-social behaviour injunctions after a Stafford family fled their house following a row over the welfare of two dogs.
Carmen Amor and Stephen Andrea, of Charles Cotton Street, North End, used threatening and abusive behaviour which resulted in Jai Bradfield, his partner Emma Bailey and their four children leaving their home in the middle of the night, a judge heard.
Amor, aged 34, and Andrea, 32, were issued with full anti-social behaviour injunctions for one year after a trial and ordered to pay the full £1,325 costs of the hearing at Stafford County Court.
Following complaints by Mr Bradfield and Miss Bailey to Stafford and Rural Homes an application was made to the court on June 15. The trial went ahead this week, more than three months later, after adjournments for the defendants to prepare their case.
The injunctions prevent them from using or threatening violence against anyone living in or visiting the area, entering the property or garden of Mr Bradfield and Miss Bailey's home in Charles Cotton Street or contacting witnesses in the case.
Mrs Amor said today that all she had done was kick the couple's front door in frustration.
She said she had been in the garden of Mr Andrea's home on a very hot evening in June when they became concerned for the welfare of the dogs who had been locked in an outhouse in the next door neighbour's garden.
"They were scratching, whining and barking constantly. There was no air ventilation. I went round to ask them to let the dogs out. They wouldn't answer the door to me. All I did was kick the front door.
Miss Bailey said the RSPCA were involved but there was no cruelty to the dogs and they had no concern for their welfare.
"My children were so upset and frightened that we had to go and stay with my mother. We left at 5am after the incident had happened at 10.30pm. The children were too scared to stay in the house. There was nowhere for the dogs to be kept so we phoned the RSPCA and they advised us to re-home them. I dispute there was any mistreatment of them," she added.
Mrs Amor, who works as a factory worker and first aid officer at Sandmaster, Hixon, said: "Now I have ended up with this order and having to pay a huge amount of costs. I have never been in any trouble before.
"But even so I would do it again. I had a dog for 10 years and I was just concerned for these dogs. I understand the couple have now got rid of them and have two new puppies," she added.