A 42-year-old man, said to have terrified tenants by moving into other people's flats and using them for drugs and prostitution, has been banned from hundreds of Council properties across the city.

Bradford Council has been granted an injunction by a County Court judge for its biggest ever exclusion area to protect frightened families.

The man, who is not a tenant and has no fixed address, faces a long prison sentence if he enters, remains or lives in any of about 40 blocks of flats in an area including the city centre, Barkerend, Undercliffe, Bowling, part of Manchester Road, Marshfields and Otley Road. The court action is part of a blitz by the Council to rid its estates of people whose behaviour brings terror and misery to tenants.

A Council spokesman said the man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - had threatened and intimidated vulnerable people by entering, living in and using their homes for illegal activities including drug dealing and prostitution.

He added the man had "scant regard" for people he tormented. "Elderly and vulnerable residents who have a terrific fear of crime were angered by the conditions in which they found themselves."

An emergency injunction was granted without the man present. It was endorsed on July 12 when he was in court but the Council says he broke it on five occasions.

Last week in court Judge James Barry confirmed the injunction for a year.

He gave police power to arrest the man and take him into custody before returning him to court if the order is broken.

In cases where power of arrest is not given, people can simply be removed then taken to court if they break injunctions.

Judge Barry also gave him a three-month suspended prison sentence for breaking the order previously and warned he faced a lengthy prison sentence if it happened again.

The injunction also prevents the man from causing nuisance and annoyance to people living in or visiting city centre flats in Chain Street or the other areas named on the injunction.

Councillor Kris Hopkins, Executive member for housing, said: "The Council has a responsibility to ensure that people can live in a safe community, feel secure, not be harassed and put in fear.

"We will take whatever action we need to protect them."

Today people in Chain Street described the nightmare of many elderly tenants who dare not open their doors or venture onto the streets.

Local pub licensee Kevin Lockwood welcomed the tough action by the Council.

He said: "There are threats, muggings and prostitution and many old people are frightened to come out. They need some help. I walk the old gentlemen back myself at night."

Chris Sheard, 18, who has lived in Chain Street since January, said: "I don't know of any one particular person but there are threats and people come in here from outside. Old people are terrified."