Police have sealed off a Stevenage house after more than 130 complaints from members of the public about anti-social behaviour and suspected drug dealing.

No-one will be able to enter a property in Grampian Place, Great Ashby, for three months after police received a barrage of complains over a three-year period.

Police were granted the closure order by magistrates at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard all necessary criteria for a closure order had been met. These include that there is disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour at the property and that the use of the property causes a nuisance to members of the public.

Police raided the house on October 15 last year after obtaining a drugs warrant.

Cannabis and drugs paraphernalia were seized and a man in his 40s from Stevenage was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, and was given a warning.

Another drugs warrant was carried out in April this year. Although no drugs were seized, traces of cocaine were detected.

A 36-year-old man from Stevenage was arrested at the property on suspicion of drugs offences and burglary.

He was later charged with one count of failing to give a drugs sample and one count of burglary, and was sentenced to eight weeks in jail at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on April 8.

Anyone who now breaches the closure order can be arrested.

Sgt Stephen Burke, a community safety officer for North Herts, said: “Alongside our partner agencies, we have been responding to complaints about the behaviour of the resident and visitors to the address for three years. “By taking this action to close the property, we hope to provide neighbours and the wider community with some respite from the on-going issues at the address.

“This is great example of how the new ASB Crime and Policing Act has given us greater powers so that we can take action against anti-social behaviour, which can become such a misery for neighbours, and improve the quality of life for our local communities.”

The police investigation was supported by The Home Group and North Herts District Council.