Skelmersdale man who threatened to kill a young couple and their premature baby forced out of his council flat

Feb 4 2010 by Tom Duffy, Skelmersdale Advertiser

A SKELMERSDALE man who threatened to murder a young couple who were caring for their premature baby has been forced out of his council flat.

Steven Simm, 31, terrorised the family for months and threatened to kill the couple and then burn down their home.

He made the evil taunt after a police drugs raid on his flat in Cornbrook.

The family were left fearing for their lives because of the compressed air cylinder in their flat to provide oxygen to their poorly baby. A fire would have triggered a massive explosion in the block of flats, threatening innocent lives.

West Lancashire Borough Council enforced an Anti Social Behaviour Injunction against Simm in October 2009, forbidding him from contacting the couple, and following a criminal conviction for affray on January 22, when he received a two year community order, the council initiated eviction proceedings against him.

Officials received a catalogue of complaints from residents appalled by Simm's ‘intimidating, abusive’ behaviour.

Rather than face court, Simm returned the keys to his flat, where he had made the young family's life hell with his loud music, smoking, barking dog, all night parties and general anti-social behaviour.

The Advertiser understands the baby’s mother is still coming to terms with her ordeal at the hands of the yob.

One woman told the Advertiser: “I know who the Simm family are. Most people do round here but they are too frightened to say so. That is what they are like.”