Portsmouth tenant says he nearly killed himself after being tormented by neighbours
The resident says he has been repeatedly threatened and abused over the past year
A council tenant has said he is living a “nightmare” and nearly killed himself after being subjected to taunts of being “gay”, “fat” and Jewish amid threats of being beaten up by neighbours.
The resident of Bevis Road, North End, said he has suffered relentless “bullying” at the hands of neighbours and wants to be moved.
Matters escalated after the Portsmouth City Council tenant, who has been temporarily living with his brother, complained of loud drumming from his neighbours. He said this led his neighbours targeting him with threats before he hit back with “some rude words” - resulting in him being slapped with a police community resolution for harassment. He said his neighbours who have been threatening him have also been warned by police.
Despite reporting incidents to police and the council the man says nothing is being done to protect him.
He said: “Over the last year I cannot open my curtains or go in the garden as me and my son have been stalked. We have been called gay, fat, and suffered Jew slurs and I’ve been threatened with them loudly saying ‘we will get my mates to beat me up’.
“Over a damn year of terror. My son no longer stays or will go to this area as he is terrified of the people. Early this year I almost killed myself after heavy bullying from them. I reported it but got the run around and it made me feel unheard. I hid away.”
The man, who says he has been forced to temporarily move out due to the loud noise and abuse, is calling on the council to move him. “One of the reasons as a gay Jew I’m begging the council to move me is I don’t feel safe,” he said.
“They have made me mentally ill. I want to be free of this nightmare. The other neighbours have also been bullied.
“There is a blind eye being turned here by someone. Even after I move I believe the people will be terrorising and bullying people.
“I don’t feel safe. This has gone too far. Something is very wrong here. I can’t be transparent anymore. I just want a safe and peaceful life.”
Hampshire Police said they were looking into a “neighbour dispute involving complaints of excessive noise nuisance, and allegations of harassment in which a man reported being followed and filmed”. This was reported to police on 24 August this year.
“Police have conducted enquiries and based on the information obtained by police, officers have given words of advice to those involved. No further criminal action is being taken,” a force spokesperson said.
A Portsmouth City Council spokesperson said: “As a social housing provider, we take any reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and have policies and procedures in place; the aim being to support our residents and those affected in addressing such reports.
“This will involve working with the parties involved, relevant services, including external agencies to understand the circumstances which may have led to the situation so that appropriate and proportionate support can be put in place and action may be taken.”