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Leicester’s former International Hotel is to be boarded up after a court heard it has become a dangerous ‘haven for criminals’.

The huge 1970s building in Rutland Street has been disused for years and is falling into dereliction.

Nearby residents have reported having their homes showered with brick and other missiles.

And they say their cars have been damaged by intruders at the building.

Nearby dwellers have also witnessed regular drug abuse at the site.

The building’s owner, Land Invest Ltd, said attempts had been made to secure the premises with barriers following problems there last summer.

But the security measures have been torn down - sometimes within 20 minutes of being put in place, the firm says.

Now, Leicester City Council has gone to court to get a closing up order.

Jonathan Manning, representing the authority, told Leicester Magistrates' Court: “Since last June the police and the local authority have been aware of serious problems of unauthorised occupiers breaking in and using it for a variety of purposes.”

He added that there had been drug abuse and other anti-social behaviour.

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“People have been jumping from the roof of the building to neighbouring Alexandra House," said Mr Manning.

“It’s four or five feet across - but it is 100 feet in the air.”

He said rough sleepers and other trespassers had been setting fires in the property.

There had also recently been a flood which forced the street outside to be closed.

Dangers

“The police have such serious concerns about the building and the dangers it presents they are under orders not to enter unless there is an immediate incident that requires them to do so to preserve life," Mr Manning continued.

“The building has become a haven for local criminals aware the police won’t enter, save in serious circumstances.”

Mr Manning said British Virgin Islands-based Land Invest had ignored the council’s calls to adequately secure the building.

These included an abatement notice served on December 13.

He added that the council had now no alternative to seek a court order to relieve the suffering of nearby residents.

“I would characterise it as the complete inactivity of the defendant (Land Invest) to deal with problems they were plainly aware of,” Mr Manning said.

The owner's view

Clifford Simons, managing agent for the owner, told the court the anti-social behaviour was not disputed.

But he asked district judge Sally Fudge not to grant the order so as to allow Land Invest to take steps to properly secure the building within seven days.

Mr Manning said the council did not trust Land Invest to take the action needed so the council must be allowed to act.

He said: “This is an empty building that has been ignored by its owner for many months.

“There is simply nothing on the council can rely on about which Mr Simons has put forward this morning.

“This boils down to cost. If the council does work it is entitled to charge that to the owner.”

The next step

“The detriment to the people who have been suffering is immediate and personal and it caused them extreme distress," said Mr Manning.

“Those people are entitled to immediate address not to the promises of the owner.

The court heard the police planned to enter the building tomorrow to remove anyone inside before the council secure it."

The order granted by district judge Fudge means only authorised people such as the emergency services, council officials and contractors can enter for the next three months.

It will be a criminal offence for anyone else to go in.

Land Invest failed in a bid to get planning permission to demolish the hotel last year.

The court heard the company is looking a new plans for the building.