A COUPLE have been kicked out of their home by a judge, after police said it was a source of drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Josh Thwaites, who lives at the house in Milburn Street with his partner Kelly Bonner, 29, told a court there had been no antisocial behaviour associated with the property since they got together four months ago.

But after hearing a statement from PC Leesa Edwards, District Judge Gerald Chalk approved a three-month closure order on their rented home.

In her statement, the police officer said the Milburn Street house had been the source of “numerous reports” of crime, disorder and serious nuisance.

This continued despite the police serving a warning letter on the couple on June 18.

“Reports of drug related criminality and disorder and serious nuisance have continued,” said the officer. She said the closure order was necessary to protect the local community.

Thwaites and Bonner went to Carlisle’s magistrates' court to oppose the closure order application from Cumbria police.

“We’ve been in a relationship for four months and we’ve both been crime free,” Thwaites told the judge.

“Whatever problems have gone on before have stopped. Since we’ve lived together, there’s been no antisocial behaviour.

“There have been people trying to get in, kicking at the door, but we’ve refused them entry.” He pleaded with the judge to give him a chance.

Despite the couple’s plea, District Judge Chalk said he was satisfied there had been nuisance and disorder associated with the couple’s privately rented home.

“Despite the warning issued on June 18, the disorderly behaviour has continued. I am now making the closure order for a period of three months. I am satisfied to the civil standard [of proof] that there has been disorderly behaviour and this address.”

The civil standard of proof is defined as being “on the balance of probabilities.”

Bonner was weeping as she left the court.

The order was the second closure order made by District Judge Chalk on Thursday. He also imposed an order on another terraced house in Clay Street, Workington, where residents said they had been plagued by drug-related anti-social behaviour. Some were so fed up with the noise, nuisance, and drug related disorder that they had moved away.