Orford house occupied by prostitutes is shut down by police

The address on Forshaw Street had caused 'numerous' issues with neighbours with reports of anti-social behaviour, disorder and noise complaints after the tenants moved to the home in August.

Neighbours also told police about a firearms incident at the property where a man brandished a knife and a gun.

Warrington Hidden Harm Team applied for the three-month closure order at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The two tenants at the privately rented house were moved out of the property at the end of last year.

One neighbour told police about the 'constant visitors, rubbish and noise'.

Cheshire Police have closed down the house

Others were too frightened to report the incidents.

As a result of the sex work taking place inside the house, a 'constant stream' of people were visiting both day and night.

Environmental issues were also reported with a large amount of rubbish found in the garden.

Christian Johnson, the estate agent for the house, told magistrates that they accepted the issues had occurred and that they had spoken to the neighbours yesterday, Wednesday.

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Mr Johnson said the neighbours were the 'absolute priority' and were happy at the prospect of meeting new tenants.

He asked why neither the landlord nor the agency had been notified of the criminal activity and issues and said the landlord was 'mortified' when she found out about the order.

He told the court that a family with two children were interested in moving into the house and could do so straightaway and this would be better than having a 'boarded up property on the street'.

Police expressed 'grave concerns' at the prospect of a young family moving into the house

Jo Clarke, appearing on behalf of Cheshire Police, said the force had 'grave concerns' about a family with young children moving into the house so soon after the firearms incident.

She also asserted that it would cause a 'serious safeguarding issue' as clients would still continue to visit the property until they realised the women had moved out.

The magistrates agreed it would be 'wholly inappropriate' to move a family into the property and agreed to a three-month closure order.

Anyone who enters the property during that time is committing an offence and can be arrested and prosecuted.

Detective constable Stephen Deehan, of the Warrington Hidden Harm Team, said: “We visited the house after receiving intelligence that the house was being used as a brothel.

“After establishing that the two women living there were not being exploited or coerced into sex work, we gathered evidence of unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour, disorder, noise and rubbish at the property.

“This was having a significant detrimental impact on the quality of life of residents.

“Information supplied by neighbours played a key role in the evidence we gathered that has enabled us to secure a closure order for the house.

“We want people to be able to live in their homes without having to suffer from the effects of unacceptable issues at neighbouring properties.

“The closure order is another example of our commitment to targeting those who undermine our communities and bring misery to others.

The house is boarded up

“I hope that this case encourages others to report and give statements regarding anti-social behaviour or criminal activity at properties they live near.

“As this case shows, we will do something about it.

“At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to tackling those who engage in anti-social or criminal activity at their own home. Those who do so risk losing the property.”

Officers will conduct regular checks of the house over the next three months to ensure that the closure order is not breached.

If anyone is found to have breached the order they are liable to be arrested and face up to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine or both.

No arrests have been made in connection with the house closure.

Anyone who is concerned about anti-social behaviour or criminal activity in their community is urged to call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or provide the details via www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report.

Alternatively residents can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.