A SOUTHAMPTON flat which was infiltrated by weapon wielding gangs and turned into a drug den has been sealed off following a court order.

Police boarded up the property in Chapel Road, St Mary’s, yesterday, ending a year of “hell” for neighbours.

It came after a judge rubber stamped the police’s request to lock down the flat, which officers said had previously been used by numerous criminal networks.

The court heard how in a technique, known as “cuckooing”, one gang would infiltrate the flat and operate its illegal dealings from inside.

Leaseholder Josie Rogers, who police described as “vulnerable” and a “drug user”, lived under the gang’s control.

Officers told the court how, following numerous reports from neighbouring of illegal activity, they monitored the property for more than a year and raided it several times.

Alongside drug paraphernalia, officers found shotgun shells, homemade knives and an array of improvised spear-like weapons, designed to poked through the letterbox to repel unwanted visitors.

According to investigating officer, PC Suzanne Badham, the weapons were used to fight off rival drug gangs, who would attempt to take over the site.

The court heard how neighbours would hear and witness fights outside the property, while others reported “comings and goings” throughout the night.

PC Badham said how residents in neighbouring flats described living near to the drug den as “hell” and that many feared for their safety.

To crack down on the problem property, police asked the court to sign off a ‘closure notice’ on the flat in August.

However, confusion arose during a court hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday about the property’s owner.

When police served a notice of their intention to lock down the flat, they found Mohammed Prince Islam residing there.

PC Badham said how Mr Islam was known to the police, and was previously suspected of being involved in a large-scale drug operation in the St Mary’s area.

However, the officer said Mr Islam was never arrested and that they had no evidence of him conducting any drug-related operations out of the Chapel Road flat.

Meanwhile, leaseholder, Miss Rogers, said that she was no longer living at the address and wanted “nothing to do with the court case”.

She told officers that the flat was in the process of being repossessed by Barclays bank.

Meanwhile, Mr Islam, who also did not attend court, told police that he had been given permission to stay in the flat by Miss Rogers and that he was currently “doing up” the property.

After listening to evidence from the police, District Judge Peter Greenfield said it was his opinion that Mr Islam did not have “any right to be there”.

Summarising, he described the flat as a “drain on police resources” and a “serious nuisance” to neighbours.

Judge Greenfield subsequently agreed to allow police to seal the flat off for a period of three months.