Ref. 26238-4THE MAN responsible for kicking out a noisy neighbour from a council flat has revealed how attempts by the council to find a solution broke down.

Martin Jones, a Swindon Council housing officer, told Swindon County Court how the council had grown increasingly frustrated with Vincent O'Halloran, 34, repeatedly ignoring threats to quieten down or face eviction from his flat in Milverton Court, Park North.

He said: "Swindon Council offers tenants the chance to alter their behaviour.

"He has had chances but he has ignored them. He has completely disregarded the right of other residents to have quiet enjoyment."

Meanwhile, prosecutor Francis Maple, the borough solicitor, said outside the court after a judgement that O'Halloran must leave: "Mr O'Halloran had every opportunity to save himself.

"Unfortunately his breaches of promises to the court and then subsequently two arrests left the judge with no alternative.

"There was no evidence that if he had been allowed to remain in Milverton Court he would have behaved himself adequately especially if under the influence of alcohol."

Tom Kirk, warden of the block of flats says action was inevitable to bring peace and quiet to the other tenants.

Mr Kirk has been warden of the Milverton Court tower block in Park North since 1997.

Now he hopes peace will soon return after the court's decision to give O'Halloran 28 days to leave his fourth floor flat.

As reported in the Evening Advertiser yesterday, the eviction order was granted at Swindon County Court this week after legal action by Swindon Council.

Mr Kirk says he regrets that the eviction order was needed, but attempts to talk to Mr O'Halloran, who admits having a drink problem, to ask him to quieten down had failed.

He said: "Mr O'Halloran was repeatedly told by the council about it and I spoke to him myself on several occasions.

"But when he was drunk that was it. The thumping music would go on and the problems would begin.

"Most people here are brilliant. But you only need one to spoil things for everyone."

News of the order has been well received by other residents, who have spoken of their relief at seeing their disruptive neighbour kicked out. Frederick Sapwell, 73, has lived in his second floor flat for 31 years.

He says he was sick of the noise and is glad that the council is taking action to crackdown on so-called neighbours from hell, who persist in making life a misery for others.

He said: "If people carry on like him they deserve to get kicked out. They don't seem to take any notice of the warnings the council gives them."

And he says this will serve as a warning to others. "If you let one get away with it, they will all do it. They needed to get tough and they have. I am pleased the courts have done something about it."

Michael Thompson, 18, who also lives on the second floor, feels the quality of life for other residents will improve.

He moved to Milvert-on Court with his partner five months ago. He said that their four-month-old baby was regularly woken during the night by O'Halloran's music.

He said: "It has definitely quietened down a lot since he left. Our baby would jump at night when the music went on.

"It is a positive move and a warning to everyone else who is being a nuisance."

Sharon Jones, 30, echoed the sentiments. Ms Jones, 30, who has lived in her ground floor flat for the past two years with her nine-year-old daughter Sasha, said: "It was a major problem. Every few days you would hear the music and think to yourself 'oh God not again.'

"It really isn't fair for people who have to get up early and go to work.

"It would disturb my daughter and she wouldn't be able to go to sleep."