In March 2024, in the early hours of the morning, Ben was awakened by shouting and swearing. He stated that the voices were directed at him, making him feel threatened. The sounds were coming from his downstairs neighbor, causing him considerable distress.
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03-04, 2025An hour earlier, Ben had already seen threats on his doorbell camera screen. The doorbell was rung repeatedly, making it nearly impossible for him to fall asleep. According to Ben's records, this was the 78th incident since the antisocial behavior began approximately a year ago, a situation that has significantly impacted his life.
Ben stated that he has been subjected to "abuse" and "personal threats, saying that if we leave the house, we will be shot, stabbed, and have our knees broken." He now lives in constant fear, deeply affecting his sense of security. Ben bought the former government housing in Wandsworth about three years ago. About six months later, Drina Gray moved into the apartment downstairs. He said the problems started soon after, escalating into a persistent and disturbing situation.
In addition to the threats, Ben said that he and his girlfriend, Emma, are also disturbed by noise from the downstairs apartment, including the tenant's dog barking, music, shouting, and vacuuming throughout the night. This disruption has even affected his ability to work. "Because I am severely sleep-deprived, I am often late for work. I can't concentrate on my work. Eventually, I lost my job due to stress and anxiety." Ben eventually found a new job, but he said he feels "very helpless," and the entire experience has had an adverse effect on his mental health. Emma added that she also feels "scared," saying, "We just feel trapped," highlighting the couple's sense of hopelessness.
Ben and Emma's experience is not an isolated case. According to the latest official data from crime surveys for England and Wales, 36% of people experienced or witnessed antisocial behavior last year, up from 34% the previous year. Ben, a renter in a council-owned block, said that many of his complaints to Wandsworth Council have gone unanswered, leaving him feeling unheard and unsupported. He stated that despite raising concerns about his mental health and threats of violence, he feels ignored, further exacerbating his distress.
Ben and Emma have called the police more than 20 times, and they say that while the local community police have been helpful, they feel let down by the system and are "disappointed" with the response times after calling 999. In August, an official review panel made up of police and public officials found "poor communication between agencies" and that "no one agency took ownership of the case," revealing systemic issues in addressing their situation. Wandsworth Council has admitted that it "could have acted more quickly." Ben has now filed a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman, seeking resolution and accountability.
In the past year, across the UK, the Housing Ombudsman has ruled that 67% of social landlords did not handle the problem to an appropriate standard in the 809 antisocial behavior cases he presided over. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said: "Antisocial behavior can cause unimaginable misery to people, have a profound impact on communities, and is difficult for landlords to manage." He added that he often sees cases where "failures prolong the problem, leaving residents feeling unheard and continuing to suffer," underscoring the need for better handling of such cases.
Victims' Commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove said antisocial behavior is not taken seriously enough. The BBC showed Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, some of Ben's video footage. "It shows that the system is failing to protect innocent people, yet again," she said. Baroness Newlove's husband, Garry, died in hospital in August 2007 after being attacked outside their home in Warrington, Cheshire, by three youths after he confronted a gang he believed had vandalized his wife's car. She said that 17 years later, agencies still do not understand the impact of antisocial behavior on victims. She fears that another death is needed for it to be taken more seriously and no longer treated as a "low-level" crime. She said her inbox is full of complaints from victims of antisocial behavior. Baroness Newlove hopes that new powers in the Crime and Policing Bill, drafted this year, will improve protection for victims, providing them with greater recourse and support.
Last December, Ben's neighbor, Drina Gray, admitted to charges including harassment and criminal damage and will be sentenced in March. Ben stated that the antisocial behavior is continuing and that Gray has been re-arrested multiple times since her first arrest. She returned to the apartment after her first arrest, but the BBC understands that she is temporarily living elsewhere under the terms of her bail. The council said it is seeking to repossess the property after the court case concludes. But Ben said he does not know when Gray will be permanently moved away, leaving him in a state of uncertainty and anxiety.
Wandsworth Council said in a statement that "the council takes crime and antisocial behavior very seriously, and we work with partners to both support residents and take appropriate action against those responsible. This is a complex case, and housing officers have been working closely with a number of different agencies, including the police, to resolve this matter." A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Antisocial behavior of any kind is taken seriously, and we work with colleagues in local authorities to ensure that issues raised are addressed." Speaking about Ben and Emma's specific case, the spokesperson said police are working to "ensure that offenders are brought to justice where there is evidence to support this." The BBC has contacted Drina Gray for comment.
