A TEENAGER convicted of handling stolen goods faces being booted out of her house if council chiefs win an eviction battle.
Nicola Brown, 19, could lose her home if a judge backs City of York Council's court case - triggered by scores of antisocial behaviour complaints from angry neighbours.
Housing officers opted for legal action against the young mum, who is battling against a heroin addiction, after complaints from four sets of residents in Bramham Road, Chapelfields.
York County Court heard that after Miss Brown moved to the street in late 2002, residents formally complained about late-night disturbances, car engines being noisily revved, late-night DIY sessions and visits from "undesirable" people.
Miss Brown - who is opposing the eviction attempt and denies the nuisance neighbour allegations - was last week handed an 18-month community rehabilitation order after admitting one charge of handling stolen property.
She appeared at York Crown Court with two burglars the court heard were addicted to crack cocaine and heroin. They stole property worth thousands of pounds from York homes to feed their habits. Both were jailed for two years.
Miss Brown's county court hearing was told yesterday that she had used her Acomb council house to store stolen property. Now a judge has to decide whether this breach of tenancy, alongside the neighbours' complaints, warrants eviction.
During yesterday's hearing, Miss Brown's brother, Alan Coates, told how he "distanced" himself from her when she started mixing with drug users.
But he denied DIY improvements were done at her house at antisocial hours and insisted work ended at 8pm or soon afterwards.
William Hanbury, for Miss Brown, currently on a methadone programme, said the case was mainly one person's word against another.
He said thin walls in the 1940s-built house may have been to blame for the dispute, and said there had been no official monitoring of noise levels by the council.
Mr Hanbury admitted that some "undesirable" people attended the house, but he said that did not mean every visitor fitted that description.
He told the court the council had failed to prove that keys to Miss Brown's home were freely available and it was an "open house". He added that there was not enough evidence nuisance behaviour took place over a prolonged period.
Mr Hanbury said the court rehabilitation order and the influence of Miss Brown's mother would help prevent further complaints. The summary of the prosecution case was due to be handed to the judge today.
After two days of evidence, Judge Roger Ibbotson yesterday adjourned the trial, until today when a decision will be made on when he will pass judgement. Options include imposing an immediate eviction order, issuing a suspended order, adjourning the case for more information, or throwing out the council's case.
Updated: 10:28 Thursday, April 22, 2004
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