Stockton house at centre of suspected drug drops boarded up

An enforcement officer attaches a closure order to the front door of the property

A house at the centre of suspected drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in Stockton has been boarded up.

Teesside magistrates heard scores of people had been seen arriving in Arlington Street, where drug drops were alleged to be taking place.

The court heard a bottle would be lowered from a first-floor window using a rope, with drug payment put inside.

The local council secured a closure order on the property, which will be inaccessible for three months.

Local residents were said to have feared for their safety due to intimidating behaviour, with people turning up at all times of the day and night, the court heard on Tuesday.

Neighbours also frequently witnessed people fighting, wearing balaclavas, and urinating in public.

Several residents reported they were unable to sleep due to the anti-social behaviour and noise, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said.

Locals, including older residents, purposefully went out of their way to access amenities so they did not have to walk past the house, it added.

'Live in peace'

Norma Stephenson, the council's cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said: "Long-term residents of the street have told us that the character of the street has changed in the past year 'from a good place to live to somewhere that's changed for the worse'.

"People have an absolute right to live their lives in peace and not be scared to leave their own homes or to walk down their own street."

The closure order was secured by the council, working with Cleveland Police.

Ch Insp Dan Heron, of Stockton's neighbourhood policing team, added: "No street should suffer due to crime or anti-social behaviour."