A court has granted Wandsworth Council an injunction against a Fownes Street tenant following a hearing that heard evidence of threats to kill neighbours’ children, knife throwing, and climbing on the outside of the building.
The without-notice hearing on Tuesday 16 December at Wandsworth County Court resulted in an order prohibiting Kevin Stratford from engaging in anti-social behaviour (ASB). The injunction was served on Thursday 18 December.
The judge cited “a large body of evidence pointing to anti-social behaviour” and found the behaviour “incredibly disruptive” to residents of the six-flat building at 3 Fownes Street.
The court heard the case without the defendant present – known as a “without-notice” hearing – an unusual step that requires exceptional circumstances. In normal proceedings, defendants must be informed and given the opportunity to attend and present their case. The court proceeded without notice due to concerns about potential repercussions against neighbours, given the serious nature of the allegations.
While the judge approved prohibitions on specific behaviours, he declined to order the immediate removal of dogs from the property, citing case law (Moat Housing Group-South Ltd v Harris [2005]) establishing that intrusive orders should only be made without notice in exceptional circumstances. A further hearing has been scheduled for early January 2026, when the defendant will be present to respond to the allegations and the court will consider additional measures, including the dog removal requirement. The injunction remains in effect until 16 December 2026 unless revoked.
Within hours of the injunction being served on Thursday, residents reported yelling and screaming at the property. Further disturbances were reported on Friday. The incidents coincided with the release from prison of Lee Preston, Stratford’s partner and someone residents told Putney.news is “the most disruptive and dangerous individual involved.” Preston’s status in relation to the injunction remains unclear.
The January hearing will determine whether additional measures, including dog removal, will be imposed. The court will hear from the defendant for the first time. Residents have been asked to document incidents and report them to authorities.
A year of documented incidents
The injunction comes after residents documented over 30 police callouts to the address since January 2025, including incidents of:
- Violent door-banging requiring police intervention in April
- A broken window during the night while a mother and child slept in July
- Physical assault on a female neighbour
- Hands being poked through letterboxes
- Climbing building exteriors with weapons
Authorities had repeatedly told residents they needed “more evidence” despite extensive video footage, police reference numbers, and witness statements documented in previous Putney.news coverage.
The council closed the ASB Case Review in September 2025, marking actions as “completed” – including CCTV deployment. However, documented incidents continued. The camera wasn’t actually installed until late October and was immediately found to be obstructed by foliage.
The action comes after Putney.news contacted the council, Metropolitan Police, and local MP Marsha de Cordova with detailed questions about their handling of the case. MP Marsha de Cordova had previously written to residents stating that Housing Officer John Thompson had been “actioning injunctions on the culprits” and that a temporary CCTV camera had been deployed, though residents were not notified of its installation until after they filed a formal complaint.
Case Details: The Mayor & Burgesses of the London Borough of Wandsworth vs Mr Kevin Stratford (Case reference: M02WT125). Deputy District Judge Davis presiding at Wandsworth County Court and Family Court, 16 December 2025.
