Couple spotted having sex in hot tub in communal gardens at apartment block

Families say they have been left living in fear by a nuisance neighbor after numerous incidents including one which saw him engaging in “drunken sex” in an installed hot tub within the shared gardens. Three mothers living at a Livv Housing apartment complex in Knowsley, Merseyside, described their “terror” and “bewilderment” over the unsettling events.

Having all moved in around five years ago the women became friends and have worked to make their complex a joyful and secure area for their children. But several months ago a man, described as Mr A, moved in and they allege problems have since dreamed.

One mother recounted how her children were innocently playing when Mr A burst out yelling at them during their first night in the flats. “It was raining outside and the kids were playing on the landing and he came out and shouted at them. They were very upset so I went around and introduced myself and saw he was drunk. It was scary and alarm bells were ringing straight away,” she told the Liverpool Echo.

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“The next night a woman moved in and she was lounging on the stairs drunk with a bottle. Then they started having huge blazing rows, shouting and running around the block and intimidating everyone. Simply put we don’t feel safe anymore.”

Livv Housing has acknowledged the concerns of the families and said it was actively working with partners to support tenants while also gathering enough evidence for appropriate enforcement action. The mothers who spoke out on condition of anonymity recalled an incident earlier this year when Mr A set up a hot tub in the communal garden. One mum stated: “People use that garden all the time, including the kids to play football and the next minute this fella and his girlfriend are having drunken sex in this hot tub. Someone went over and told them to pack it in but they didn’t ‘t care because they were so drunk.”

The tenants allege that Mr A’s behavior has escalated from minor disputes to outright intimidation. After a resident confronted Mr A directly they claim he spent the rest of the night running around the block banging on doors and splashing paint over their front door.

They also allege that Mr A continues to drive his car despite being disqualified from driving. The mums reported that he recently crashed his car into a playing field near their homes. Merseyside Police have confirmed that Mr A was subsequently arrested and charged in relation to these alleged offences.

Another added: “It’s so annoying how the system works because it was never going to work him being there. He’s drunk, he’s driving dangerously, he’s running around the block shouting and screaming and kicking people’s doors. A complete nightmare. “She further shared the distress it has caused her family: “My kids are terrified. One of them won’t even leave the flat until we confirm the coast is clear and he’s not on the landing. I’m up the wall and on medication because of it “We feel absolutely trapped and it’s like we’re prisoners in our own home.”

Sharon Marsh, executive director of customer insight at Livv Housing, said: “We were made aware of the issues relating to this address in late May 2024 and have been in regular contact with the police and support services. One of our dedicated community safety advisors has been supporting affected customers and in the last week we have gathered sufficient evidence to enable us to move forward with appropriate enforcement action.

“Our customers’ safety is our absolute priority – we’re here to support them. We take their complaints very seriously and we are working hard with our partners to come to a solution that reassures them of this. While the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police added: “We take all reports of antisocial behavior seriously and would encourage anyone with any concerns to contact us. We meet on a weekly basis with partners including housing providers and the local authority to ensure that everyone can live in a happy and peaceful environment.”