A mum has been left terrified in her own home after catching neighbours fighting with knives outside her front door. Video footage caught one man wielding a knife near to her property whilst trying to enter a flat – with another showing a physical attack in the stairwell.
Jenna Moffat, of Dalkeith, Scotland, blames regular drug users for this behaviour in her area which she claims has gradually gotten worse since she moved to the area four years ago.
She said: “There are times that we’ve gone downstairs and there’s been people sitting about downstairs taking drugs or people fighting in the stairwell. And it’s the same thing when we’re coming back in.
“This is causing significant fear and alarm to me and my family – I’m now getting antidepressants and anxiety medication due to the stress and everything that’s going on.
“I don’t really sleep because I’m so anxious – the buzzer goes constantly throughout the day and night and people scream and shout at the door every single day to get in.”
The mum has reported multiple incidents of violence, drug use and animal neglect to the police in recent years.
However, the Mayfield resident says her landlord, Melville Housing Association, ‘won’t address the ongoing issues’.
She adds that the police have been called “numerous times” due to reports of violence involving a tenant at her block of flats but a housing officer advised they “need to get all their ducks in a row” before action can be taken.
Jenna added: “The reason I moved to this flat was because I was fleeing domestic violence and what’s going on is very, very triggering.
“When I told my housing officer this, they didn’t seem to care. I’ve been asking to get moved for the last three years but I’m told they need more evidence before anything can be done.
“I said how much more do you need me to complain about him and give you evidence?”
Jenna has sent in videos, pictures and voice notes, but every time something happens, she alleges that she is being told they don’t have enough evidence to remove him from the property.
She added: “But surely he’s broken his contract numerous times. I really don’t know why he’s not been removed from the area. I’m just getting nowhere with them.
“They also said I need to put in for an exchange, but I told them no one is going to exchange with me – everybody in Midlothian knows the person and know the sort of thing that goes on.”
Her neighbours have also been left feeling scared, and now avoid going downstairs in fear of being attacked.
A spokesperson for Melville Housing Association said: “Due to tenant confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases.
“We can confirm that we take all reports of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity seriously and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our tenants.
“Where incidents are reported to us, we work closely with partners including the police to respond appropriately within the scope of our powers as a landlord.”
Police Scotland has also been approached for comment.
