Eviction for family who terrorised neighbours

A family who subjected their community to years of anti-social and criminal behaviour has been evicted from their home after losing a legal fight at the Supreme Court.

Cleveland Pinnock and his partner Christine Walker have been evicted from their house on Meldon Road in Longsight.

The eviction follows years of anti social and criminal behaviour carried out by his sons. Although Cleveland Pinnock had been the sole tenant of the property, each of his five sons -Trevor, Clive, Devon, Orraine and Orreon - have lived in or visited the house at various times.

The catalogue of anti-social and criminal behaviour perpetrated by his sons included theft, burglary with intent to steal, possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and racial abuse.

Christine Walker also received a suspended prison sentence in 2003 for breaking an injunction order following her threats to a local resident.

Orreon Pinnock was found guilty of blackmailing a 15-year-old boy who lived nearby. He was also responsible for taking money from the teenager on several occasions in 2005.

In October 2006, Orraine Pinnock breached an anti-social behaviour order by shouting racial abuse at people attending a mosque on Beresford Street in Longsight.

The City Council successfully applied for an order demoting Cleveland Pinnock's tenancy, meaning that he was no longer a secure tenant. Recorder Donovon, giving his judgment at Manchester County Court in June 2007, said that "Mr Pinnock and Christine Walker are not powerless and need to face up to their own responsibilities".

In January 2008, Devon Pinnock caused death by dangerous driving and the following month, Orreon Pinnock committed a burglary at an address near Meldon Road.

The City Council applied for a possession order to evict the family as a result of breaches of the demoted tenancy. Manchester County Court granted an order giving the City Council possession of the property on Meldon Road in December 2008.

Cleveland Pinnock then appealed against this possession order, citing his human rights.

In July 2009, the Court of Appeal upheld Manchester County Court's decision to grant Manchester City Council possession of the property. However, Cleveland Pinnock then appealed to the Supreme Court.

In February 2011, The Supreme Court made a new order, again granting Manchester City Council possession of the house.

Geoff Little, Manchester City Council's deputy chief executive, said: "The family of Cleveland Pinnock have blighted the community over many years and the community should be relieved that we have now successfully evicted them. The City Council is committed to ensuring that its tenants do not have to suffer the misery of anti-social and criminal behaviour.
"He has tried to use the courts to block the process at every step of the way, but we were always clear that we were right to evict him, and we welcome the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld our decision."