Neighbour from Hell’ Evicted for Using Garden as a Scrapyard

Mark Peto, a tenant at a council property in Dursley, Gloucestershire, has been evicted for using his garden as a scrap yard for four tons of rubbish, including storing axes in his house.

According to reports, Mr. Peto made life miserable for his neighbors by storing flammable materials outside his property.

In February 2022, a civil injunction order was granted, requiring him to remove the items from his property and garden.

A power of arrest was added to the order in May 2022, and weapons, including axes, were found and removed by the police.

Council officers worked with the police and fire officers to try and resolve the matter, but Mr. Peto refused to clear the outside of the house.

As a result, Stroud District Council removed more than four tons of scrap metal from the rear garden.

Neighbors had to live with the risk of flammable materials being stored against their property and were unable to sell their homes due to the eyesore.

After being approached by council officers, Mr. Peto became aggressive and was sent to prison in June 2022 after breaching his injunction order by assaulting a council officer.

The council was forced to apply to the courts for a warrant as eviction was the only option in this case.

Stroud District Council eventually obtained a Possession Order for the property and Mr. Peto was evicted.

Council officials commended the hard work of all the agencies involved in resolving the matter for the good of the community.

Councillor Mattie Ross, Chair of Stroud District Council Housing Committee, said that “over a prolonged period, Mark Peto inflicted misery on his neighbours with no thought or concern of his actions on others.”

She added that the council had no other option than to apply to the courts for a warrant in this case.

Council Vice-Chair, Cllr Lucas Schoemaker, thanked the residents who came forward and gave evidence and council staff for their hard work and perseverance in a difficult and complex case.