AN ABUSIVE woman and her three children have been evicted from their flat and banned from their home town after harassing residents.

Dartford Council was granted an eviction notice against Louise De-Vale, of Gunn Road, Swanscombe, at Dartford County Court on April 23.

It comes after the 35-year-old and her family were involved in a catalogue of incidents involving harassment, intimidation and threats against their neighbours.

The court heard how De-Vale spat in the face of a resident and pulled her hair, and how her son, Simon Child, 17, shot a 13-year-old girl in the shoulder with an air rifle.

De-Vale was also said to have threatened a council housing officer.

Judge Peter Glover, speaking during the hearing, commented on the fear displayed by one of the 11 witnesses giving evidence.

He said: "This brave, intelligent woman was reduced to a shaken wreck by this woman."

The court heard from residents who claimed De-Vale's actions had led them to become suicidal.

Twenty-four supporting statements were also read out from neighbours who were too frightened to give evidence personally.

Speaking after the hearing, one neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "We have quite a lot of trouble around here and a lot of it comes from her.

"It is just one of those things. You get people like her wherever you live.

"But I don't want to say too much because before I know it, I will have a scratch along my car or a brick through my window."

Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite was delighted with De-Vale's eviction.

He said: "Some councils wouldn't have taken this step but I'm proud we did.

"It's time to stand up for the good people and make life a little worse for the bad ones.

"This serves as a signal to small-minded individuals who blight the lives of others.

"I'm also pleased to tell you De-Vale will not be accepted on to our homeless list and we have no responsibility to re-home her."

Dartford Council was given an outright possession order for the property, which gives De-Vale and her family 28 days to leave the flat.

They have also been banned from Swanscombe for a year.

TOO SCARED TO SPEAK

NEWS SHOPPER reporter Dan Keel visited the Gunn Road estate two days after the court hearing.

He says: "When I attempted to speak to neighbours, De-Vale leaned out of her window and shouted abuse.

"She accused residents of being grasses', which prompted them to immediately go back inside their homes.

"De-Vale was also very abusive towards me. I asked her if she wanted to give her side of the story, but she refused and accused all journalists of being racist."

He added: "She then threatened to shove the News Shopper up my bottom if I ever returned to the neighbourhood.

"Most of her neighbours refused to speak to me because they were too scared."