Drug dealer evicted from Maybole council house

Jan 15 2010 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A DRUG dealer has been dramatically evicted from his council house.

The dad of three was booted out after being convicted of dealing from the home where he made neighbours’ lives a misery.

Alexander Hyslop abandoned the house in Maybole just minutes before police, sheriffs officers and council staff turned up to kick him out.

He was spotted with pal Mark Primrose, who also has a conviction for drug offences, wheeling his television out of the street shortly before they arrived.

The move comes more than a year after he was convicted at Ayr Sheriff Court of dealing in heroin at the property in Enoch Road.

The 43-year-old was also caught in possession of £10 bags of heroin in Maybole High Street in 2008.

And police have raided the house several times where, on one occasion, they even discovered a wanted criminal.

Neighbours insist that the eviction will end years of hell for them.

One explained: “Thank god he’s gone. It’s been a nightmare living in the same street as that man.

“There were all sorts of people coming and going from that house at all times of the day and night, it was quite obvious what was going on.

“His junkie friends used to wander into our houses at all times of the day and night thinking it was his house. It got to the point where we had to lock our doors at all times.

“We’ve had years of nothing but trouble in our street. It’s a relief to know that it’s over.”

Sergeant John Hamilton from Maybole police office confirmed that neighbours have been complaining for years about Hyslop.

He said: “We have been inundated with complaints from neighbours about noise and other activities.

“Hopefully this action will improve the situation.

“People who think it is alright to deal in drugs will be brought to justice.

“We work closely with the council and other agencies to disrupt illegal activities and to protect our communities.”

Hyslop is the second Maybole drug dealer to be evicted from his council house.

Last year, Innes Wilson lost his home while he served a prison sentence for dealing killer heroin from it.

The convicted drug dealer is expected to move to Yorkshire with his mother when he is released from jail.

Sergeant Hamilton’s view was echoed by Harry Garland from South Ayrshire Council.

He added: “We are committed to creating and supporting safe, secure communities where people can go about their daily lives in peace.

“Drugs make peoples lives a misery, and contribute to the decline of neighbourhoods by causing fear, nuisance and annoyance to other residents.

“We take a very serious view of anyone living in a council owned property who is involved in drugs, and if convicted by a court, they can be at serious risk of losing their home.

“The Council’s Tenancy Agreement, which every one of our tenants signs, makes it quite clear that we will not put up with our properties being used for illegal or immoral purposes.”

NEIGHBOURS have suffered years of hell living next door to a convicted drug dealer.

They spoke out after Alexander Hyslop was evicted from his Maybole home.

One family even had CCTV cameras installed in a bid to protect themselves from the thug and his junkie pals.

The 43-year-old was sent packing from the council owned house in Enoch Road when sheriff’s officers enforced the eviction order on behalf of South Ayrshire council on Friday.

They discovered the front windows of the mid-terraced council house smashed with debris and filthy clothes and furniture littering the inside.

The ceiling of one of the bedrooms was even daubed with graffiti.

One woman explained: “He is a bad person. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve had to phone the police when they’ve been out shouting and fighting.

“You’re always on edge. I hate it, even when my man is just pottering about in the garden. There was always something going on. He’d be out of his face hurling dog’s abuse.

“This is a great street normally, there’s never any trouble other than from that house.

“I’ll be able to sleep easier at night now.

“I’m delighted they’re gone. They’ve been there for seven years and it’s been the worst seven years of my life. Life will be a lot more pleasant.”

Hyslop moved into the street seven years ago.

Since then there’s been nothing but trouble.

Even his teenage son Alexander junior has a conviction for housebreaking.

Another neighbour even witnessed a visitor to the Hyslop’s home set fire to a bottle bank in the street.

He said: “From the very first day they moved in there was trouble. They used to shine these laser pens in people’s windows when they are watching the television.

“There’s always shouting and screaming matches in the street.

“It’s great that they’ve finally been kicked out.”

And it’s a similar story from other neighbours.

A grandad explained: “We couldn’t let the wee ones out to play because of them.

“It was a living nightmare having him and his family in the street. I’m glad to be rid of the lot of them.

“It’s the second lot of junkies that have lived in that house. Here’s hoping we get better neighbours next time.”

His view was echoed by a pensioner, who insists that the law must do more to protect communities from neighbours like Hyslop.

She said: “The police were never away from here, we know they were doing all they could. They couldn’t have been more understanding.

“But the problem is that when it gets to court all they get is a slap on the wrist.

“We’re the ones who have to live with this. The courts must do more to punish people like him.”