Sentencing for Oldham man who says he was just trying to help his neighbours adjourned until end of the year.

An Oldham man who says he is just trying to help his neighbours appeared in court this week to face a charge of being anti-social.

Gary Leese lives in social housing on Rock Street looked after by First Choice Homes Oldham. 

He has made local headlines in recent months - including in the Oldham Reporter - as he raised issues about damp, doors and windows, on behalf of neighbours. He says he brought the issues with the housing association to help.

But soon after he found himself summoned to court after First Choice Homes deemed his behaviour ‘anti-social’. 

In January 2018, at Manchester County Court, Gary signed an undertaking - a legally binding promise - not to call a specific out of hours number, and not to tell anyone he was employed as a caretaker at the building.

But in February of this year, he was called back to court by First Choice after twice calling ABCA Systems, the company responsible for the electrical door lock at the building, which breached the undertaking. Gary said both calls had been legitimate.

Sentencing was adjourned until the end of the year on the understanding Gary did not breach the agreement again.

But Gary was back in court again on Tuesday this week to face claims that his behaviour had again been anti-social in a case brought by First Choice.

He denied the charge and the case was adjourned again until the end of September. But he said he will now have to cease helping neighbours under legal advice.

He said: “It is wearing me out and I’m not sleeping. My tenancy runs out soon and I’m worried I will be evicted. 

“First Choice think I am intimidating and causing problems, but they don’t listen to anyone. They are continuing to build more houses, but they are doing nothing about looking after the ones they have already built.”

Vinny Roche, Chief Executive of First Choice Homes Oldham comments: “The safety of our customers and contractors is of the utmost importance to us. 

“We also ensure that electrical work carried out to our properties is done by certified professionals. We will not stand by when the high levels of service we provide to our customers, and the safety of our customers and staff, is threatened.

“The application for the injunction against Mr Leese aims to ensure we protect our customers, as well as the community of Rock Street. 

“Although Mr Leese is a customer of ours, we have worked closely with him to try and rectify the issues he has and have recently carried out major repair work to the Rock Street area where Mr Leese lives. 

“Legal action such as this is always a last resort, but in this case we have been left with no other option in order to safeguard our customers and contractors.”