A MOTHER who wrought havoc on a residential street has been barred from her house for three months, after a closure notice was upheld.

More than 40 police reports of anti-social behaviour relating to Phoebe Stephan, of Gwynne Road, Dovercourt, were brought before Harwich Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A neighbour threatening to stab her to death, male guests leaving the house with baseball bats, and swearing at residents, were just some of the incidents ranging from May 15 to the day before the closure notice was issued, on September 8.

The list of incidents began just four days after Stephan moved into the property.

The 22-year-old, who represented herself at the hearing, was also accused in court of causing a “serious nuisance to members of the public” by playing her music at 4am, banging on a neighbour’s wall and having altercations with people in the street.

Phillip Rice was the only resident to give evidence against Stephan although two other anonymous statements were supplied.

“I’m a nervous wreck,” Mr Rice told the court.

“I didn’t have health problems before May this year and now I am being treated for depression and am taking sleeping pills.

“Life has been hell. They bang on the walls, my son has been spat at and my wife has been told to ‘go back to hospital’ after she came home.

“She’s been very upset,” the 65-year-old, added.

Stephan, whose five-year-old son has been staying with his grandparents, said: “I hold my hands up to some of it - but not all.

“I did play my music but not at 4am. If people are in my house and then go down the road and start a fight it’s nothing to do with me.”

Chairman of the bench, John Valentine, upheld the closure notice after the decision was deliberated for an hour.

He said: “On the 23rd of July, Stephan signed an acceptable behaviour contract accepting that she had behaved in an unnacceptable manner and was going to stop.”

“Such nuisance has continued since she signed the agreement and since the closure order was made.

“We see no other option but to uphold the order,” he added.

Stephan and her cousin Stacey Vaux, who also lives in the house, were allowed to return there to collect their belongings before police sealed the premises yesterday afternoon.

The decision means Stephan is banned from entering the house for three months and if police seek to extend the notice, up to six months.

Insp Kevan Griggs, of Harwich Police, said after the hearing: “I’m obviously delighted with the decision of the court to grant the closure order."