A COUNCIL tenant who ignored a court injunction ordering him not to abuse his neighbours and council staff has been jailed for six weeks.

Steven Wells, 53, who is also known as Ryan Mark Senogles, harassed Swindon Borough Council staff cutting grass and trimming hedges near his home in Bathampton Street in the Railway Village, despite the council gaining an injunction in July ordering him to stop.

Swindon County Court heard the abuse became so bad that a female member of the grounds maintenance team had to be moved to duties to another part of Swindon as she was left traumatised by his behaviour, and maintenance work in the area was left unfinished.

Wells breached the court injunction six times, on one occasion spitting into a council vehicle, and on another playing extremely loud music in his home while grass cutting was going on.

Councillor Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for housing, said: “I take a dim view of anyone threatening our staff or tenants and I hope that the sentence will give this individual an opportunity to reflect on his behaviour.”

Swindon Borough Council’s head of housing, Mike Ash, said: “We take all reports of anti-social behaviour extremely seriously and will not tolerate this type of conduct towards anyone. I hope this sends a strong message that we will not allow our tenants to act in such an intimidating and aggressive manner and we will take swift action when necessary.”