Nightmare neighbour put out tripwires at Vivid Housing flats

Housing association tenant Julian Martin left ‘large amounts’ of wire outside his property in Knowlton Close in Bursledon over a period spanning several months.

In county court case brought by Vivid Housing, a court was told Mr Martin also urinated outside a fellow resident’s front door and installed CCTV around the property.

The block of flats owned by Vivid in Knowlton Close (Image: Google Maps)

Collette Crabb, tenancy enforcement officer at Vivid Housing, said there are ‘significant concerns’ surrounding Mr Martin’s behaviour in a witness statement.

She said Mr Martin assaulted a member of staff by spraying him and his vehicle’s windscreen with an unknown liquid.

This followed questions Mr Martin asked about his trip wires placed in the communal area being removed.

Ms Crabb said: “In July 2022, the claimant (Vivid) received a photograph of a threatening note believed to have been left by the defendant on his front door.

“The note said: ‘2nd time on camera, 3rd time I come for you, 3 warnings is enough!’

“The claimant’s caretaker also became aware of large amounts of wire around the defendant’s property, hidden within the vegetation.

“The wire was about knee height and would pose a significant health and a safety risk to both the claimant’s staff and any residents.”

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The trip wire was removed on August 2.

Her statement goes on to state that Vivid received a report from a resident on August 12 that the defendant had claimed to put trip wire and broken glass over his garden ‘in case children go into it.’

Both Vivid and police officers visited Mr Martin later that month, for which he did not allow access.

But CCTV cameras attached to the outside of the building were spotted.

Both Vivid and officers also removed wire from the bushes to the property, believed to have been left by Mr Martin.

A formal warning was issued to him in September – but this did not stop him.

In her statement, Ms Crabb states how the mother of a resident at Knowlton Close is worried about what the defendant may do to him.

This comes after he left ‘mud and stones’ outside his property, and also urinated outside her son’s front door.

Mr Martin denied any wrongdoing during a meeting with Hampshire Constabulary in December and claimed the wire was installed to protect wildlife.

But in February of this year, nails left ‘sharp side up’ and concealed by leaves were removed from outside his property by Vivid.

Broken glass was also discovered and removed the following day.

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An injunction order was imposed upon Mr Martin in March at Southampton County Court.

This bans him from installing any CCTV or recording equipment, contacting certain residents, and placing any form of trip hazard or wire in any of the communal areas.

It also forbids him from placing any nails, glass, or any other sharp or hazardous object or material in any of the communal grounds that form part of Knowlton Close.

He cannot place any signs that are threatening, abusive, or designed to cause offence in any visible areas of the property.

The order is due to remain in force until March 17 next year.

The next hearing will be held at Southampton County Court on June 14.