Bad neighbours can make life intolerable for the people living near them. The worst sort of neighbour of all surely must be someone who moves into an area then occupies various homes against the wishes of the residents and uses them for illegal purposes such as drugs dealing and prostitution.

It is not hard to imagine how vulnerable and frightened elderly people must feel when they encounter such banditry. People's own homes are places where they should be able to feel safe. That ought to be everyone's right. No-one should have to put up with an individual who threatens and intimidates them then moves into their home, as has been happening in the Chain Street area of Bradford.

There are no doubt reasons why the police can't take action against the man concerned under criminal law for drug-dealing and prostitution activities which are clearly illegal. However, that does not mean that the law is helpless to protect the victims of this bully.

The Council deserves a pat on the back for going to the County Court and securing an injunction barring the man concerned from a substantial number of blocks of flats. If he now continues with his activities in any of those properties, he can be arrested and taken to court and (according to Judge James Barry) could face a long prison sentence.

As he broke an emergency injunction five times, there seems every likelihood that he might soon find himself in court again. When that happens, it is to be hoped that the sentence matches the threat and this thug is put away for a long time.