John decided 'enough was enough'

A WESTON man has won a national award for standing up to an antisocial thug.John Penn, pictured right, was given a Home Office Take a Stand Award after he gave evidence against his troublesome neighbour Brynley Meek.The 68-year-old prostate cancer patient recorded a log of Meek's antisocial activities and got his neighbours to join him.Meek, 45, who lived in Coleridge Road, on the Bournville estate, was one of the first people in the country to be given two antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) in 2004.He was banned from pubs in the town and causing alarm, harassment or distress to anyone in North Somerset.But Meek continued to cause hell for his neighbours by threatening them and playing loud music.Mr Penn stood up to Meek by going to court with his neighbours and helping to gain an order removing him from North Somerset last year.He said: "He gave us two years of hell and took over our lives completely. He was always drunk every Thursday and played loud music all the time."He exposed himself in front of women and threatened my other neighbours."Enough was enough and I asked three of my neighbours to come to court with me and give evidence and he pleaded guilty."Mr Penn decided to split the £1,000 grant given with the award between Bournville Infant and Bournville Junior schools to allow the police to carry out antisocial classes.Terry Crease, the police's ASBO co-ordinator, said: "We have nothing but praise for Mr Penn and his neighbours who stood up to Meek."We encourage neighbours to come forward so we can take action to rid North Somerset of antisocial behaviour.