A VULNERABLE man has been protected from dealers using his property to sell class A drugs.

Officers from Southend Council, South Essex Homes and Essex Police attended the sheltered housing unit at Snakes Lane to serve a court order which prevents anti-social behaviour and drug dealing taking place at the property.

While the behaviour is illegal anyway the order means nobody else is able to enter the home or they breach the order, regardless of whether drugs are found.

It comes after evidence of drug dealers - who do not live there - have been using the property to supply class A drugs.

Mark Flewitt, councillor for public protection, said: “This court order safeguards the legal occupier from ongoing exploitation and criminal activity and protects the local community, which has been blighted by its use for dealing hard drugs.

“I must commend the council officers, South Essex Homes and police for working closely together to take such swift and decisive action.

“It shows we will not hesitate to use all legal means to stamp out the menace of drugs in our town.”

The order prohibits anyone other than the tenant, anyone working on behalf of South Essex Homes, police and the tenant’s carers from entering.

Anyone else seen entering the property can be arrested and faces up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Some residents of the accommodation reported feeling “terrified” by the flat’s frequent visitors and disturbances and kept their windows shut through the hot weather as unknown men were peering through them “at all times of day and night”.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Our Operation Raptor teams work around the clock to target those people who think they can deal drugs in our county.

“We will do whatever it takes to put these individuals out of business and behind bars using all the tools open to us, including measures such as partial closure orders as was the case in this instance.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners and the community to ensure we tackle those causing harm in our communities.”

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.