A MOTHER-of-three branded a nuisance neighbour has received a letter telling her she faces eviction.

Paula Bedford, 35, of Chapelfields Road, Acomb, York, has been on a demoted tenancy - which involves regular visits from the council's housing team - since a court case in December when she was accused of antisocial behaviour, noise nuisance and drug dealing.

There then followed claims she had been threatened with eviction because of the noise from her African grey parrot.

Now she has received a letter telling her there will be an eviction hearing held at York County Court on May 14 because of her alleged noisy behaviour.

City of York Council has been told of 12 separate days when Miss Bedford was allegedly excessively noisy. Virtually all the complaints relate to doors being slammed through the day. The other allegationss relate to the behaviour of Miss Bedford's lodger.

Miss Bedford said: "It's bang out of order. It's a normal family home - I've got three boys living here.

"I daren't even let the kids out in the back garden in case somebody starts moaning.

"I'm like a nervous wreck living in this house.

"Some people say I would be better off being evicted because we're walking on eggshells. Our home is not our home any more, we're prisoners in our home.

Miss Bedford added that the demoted tenancy she is on leaves her open to wild accusations.

"I'm sat here like a sitting duck, I've been like this since December. They should not put families through this, especially people who are bringing kids up on their own."

She said the council would not re-house her and her family would end up getting "shoved in a bed and breakfast and forgotten about."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Due to her previous behaviour, Ms Bedford's tenancy was changed from a secure tenancy to a demoted tenancy in December last year.

"This means that if she fails to comply with the council's guidelines concerning tenants' behaviour within the next 12 months, she will be evicted.

"Since December, the council has received numerous allegations of further breaches of tenancy.

"As a result, Ms Bedford has been served with a Notice to Apply for Repossession. If she decides to appeal against the decision, her case will be heard by a panel of senior council officers."

The spokeswoman said if the county court agrees that Miss Bedford should be evicted then the court would set the date which is normally between four and six weeks after the case.


The list of allegations

The allegations against Paula Bedford and her lodger.

Dec 30, 2006: Abusive to a local resident

Jan 24, 2007: Vincent James (Ms Bedford's lodger) threatens a teacher at Westfield SchoolFeb 26: Vincent James intimidates a neighbourFeb 27: Noise of a door slammingMar 1: Noise of a door slammingMar 2: Noise of doors slammingMar 2: Disturbance outside the houseMar 3: Reports of loud voices and doors being slammedMar 4: Noise of doors slammingMar 5: Noise of doors slamming and loud voicesMar 6: Noise of doors slammingMar 7: Noise of doors slammingMar 9: Noise of doors slammingMar 10: Noise of doors slamming and voices heardMar 11: Noise of doors slamming.