A MOTHER whose children have harassed Swanage residents for three years has been ordered to keep her household under control or face being thrown out of her home.

Purbeck Housing Trust tenant Fiona Driver escaped immediate eviction this week, when the trust applied to a county court for a possession order on her house in Holmes Road.

But the order was suspended for five years, so if anyone in her home causes a nuisance to Swanage residents or is convicted of a crime committed in the town, or if she does not keep control of her younger children, she will be kicked out.

Mr Recorder Patterson said Mrs Driver's own behaviour did not merit the possession order, but he showed more concern about that of her children Marcus, 21, Chantelle, 18, and Leano, 11.

Marcus, who has 27 convictions, served a three-and-a-half-year youth custody sentence for robbery in 2003 and was then given a 10-year antisocial behaviour order banning him from Swanage.

Chantelle also received an Asbo in 2003, which was extended to five years the following year, and was given a four-month sentence earlier this year for breaching it.

"It's clear that she was out of the control of her mother and was around and about Swanage behaving in a way which caused a great deal of distress to the residents of Swanage," said Mr Patterson.

He said that Leano had been causing problems before the age of 10, including breaking a window, swearing at children and lying on the road or jumping in front of cars.

Although these were not major incidents individually, he said accumulated they caused harassment to residents.

But the recorder also accepted Leano has social and educational needs, and has also moved to Slough.

Marcus cannot live at Holmes Road, because of his Asbo.

And Swanage Sergeant Jon Bleasdale said Chantelle's behaviour has improved since her Asbo - she has moved out of Holmes Road and is now helping out at her local youth club.

Following the hearing, Mrs Driver said: "Hopefully, now this is over, we can get on with our lives and move to the future."

A Purbeck Housing Trust spokesman said the trust had little option but to act to protect residents.

"The court's decision will hopefully reinforce the message that nuisance behaviour will not be tolerated," he said.

First published: October 22