Housing association secures injunction against homeless man

A housing association has obtained an injunction against a 21-year-old homeless man who routinely broke into blocks of flats for older people in Newbury to find a place to sleep.

Sovereign Housing Association took action against Arthur Hayes, of no fixed address, after he ignored warnings to stop entering two of its premises.

Hayes had been sleeping in the communal areas of the housing schemes. There was also damage to the properties and the blocks were left insecure.

Jodie Antysz, Sovereign’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, said: “We tried to resolve the matter by speaking directly to Mr Hayes and explaining to him that he was causing damage to the property and disturbing the residents. However, things did not improve.

“We recognised that the situation was very distressing for our elderly residents. Many of them were scared to leave their homes and angry that Mr Hayes was doing this.”

The local neighbourhood policing team had removed Hayes on a number of occasions, but he continued to enter the buildings. 



A district judge at Reading County Court granted the injunction on 4 April. This forbids Hayes from entering or attempting to enter Willow Close, Carnarvon Place and Fairclose House, another older persons’ accommodation block in Newbury.

Should Hayes be found to be breaching the terms of the injunction, he can be arrested and brought before a court. 



Sovereign’s Antysz said: “This is an unusual case, and it is not easy taking this kind of action against someone who is in difficult circumstances. However, our primary consideration is the wellbeing of our residents, and we felt this approach was required to find a way of protecting our residents – particularly elderly and vulnerable ones - from any potential harm.”