By Claire Warrender

A COUPLE whose anti-social behaviour made their neighbours ill with stress have been evicted from their home.

Fife Police secured a closure order against Karyn Gray and Mark Somerville at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday, preventing them from returning to their flat in the town’s St Kilda Crescent for three months.

The order followed a string of complaints about the couple’s behaviour, which included playing loud music, making threats, intimidation and fighting with weapons.

The trouble got so bad that police in full riot gear called to deal with it were pelted with objects thrown from a balcony.

As Fife Council workmen secured the property, nearby residents spoke of their relief the pair had gone after enduring eight months of hell.

One woman said her daughter had been too frightened to sleep in her own bed because of the couple’s behaviour, and told of all-night parties, constant noise and verbal abuse.

The neighbour, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said she suffered high blood pressure and sleepless nights as a result of the stress.

A man, who also asked that his name be withheld, said he had been prescribed anti-depressants to help him cope, adding, “You don’t realise how stressful it is till you’re in that situation.”

He continued, “We’ve had loud music, shouting late at night, smashed bottles outside, rubbish at the front and back, verbal abuse and kicked doors.

This has been constant since January.

“I’m happy now that they’re gone. They must have had countless warnings, and I thought they would have taken heed to be honest.

“I’ll be glad to get back to some kind of normality and get a sleep at night finally.”

The flat belongs to the council and was leased to Karyn Gray (24) on January 22. The anti-social behaviour is said to have begun almost immediately, but worsened when Mark Somerville moved in with her.

Sheriff Paul Arthurson heard the couple now live in East Wemyss and do not intend to return to St Kilda Crescent.

Safer Neighbourhoods Team member Constable Ross Laing said, “It was obvious that this woman just didn’t care that she was subjecting her neighbours to months of misery because of her behaviour.

“There were regular incidents of loud music, drunken parties, disorder, including fighting with weapons, and shouting and swearing.

“Just this week, police officers had to attend in protective clothing, complete with riot shields.

“Officers were pelted with abuse and with objects from a balcony.”

Council locality manager Mary Siskou added, “It is always a cause for regret that the council and police are forced to bar someone from living at an address.

“But in cases like this, we have to think of the greater good of the majority of people in the neighbourhood.

“Their lives were made totally unbearable, thanks to the extreme behaviour of their neighbour and her visitors.

“People felt intimidated and their quality of life suffered.”

Sergeant Kenny Berry, of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, warned that Fife Constabulary is determined to use every legal avenue available in the drive to make communities safer.

“Closure orders are a useful weapon, and in this instance was helpful in getting a quick resolution,” he said.

“By using this legislation we are sending the message that people who behave in a way that threatens, annoys or harms their neighbours can expect to pay the consequences.

“Fife Constabulary is committed to preventing anti-social behaviour and we will continue to work closely with other agencies to give the people of Fife the safe and secure streets they deserve.”