A NEIGHBOUR from hell, who used disability discrimination legislation as a defence, has been evicted after a year-long battle.

Dozens of complaints from neighbours about Lorraine Linda Thompson's drink-fuelled noise and verbal abuse, led Bury Council's housing services team to try and re-possess the flat in Pilkington Road in Radcliffe in June last year.

Manchester County Court was told that Thompson (32) was an alcoholic who drank about six litres of cider a day as well as Pernod and vodka.

Months of noise problems caused by her drinking were exacerbated by a number of noisy visitors to her first-floor flat as well as barking dogs.

The court was also told that as well as being threatening and noisy, often playing music loudly, Thompson subjected neighbours to torrents of foul language, threats and accused them of complaining because they were old.

The council issued a possession notice in June last year but the case was delayed while the court awaited medical advice on Thompson's health and later when she was given leave to appeal following a hearing in March.

She also ignored a December, 2003, injunction demanding an improvement in her behaviour, claiming it was caused by depression and her drink problem. She claimed the eviction bid was illegal as the council had failed to consider her physical or mental impairment under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.

On May 19, the Court of Appeal rejected two similar cases and Thompson dropped her appeal. A possession order was finally granted on July 8 and Thompson left the property before bailiffs arrived to evict her.

Thompson, previously a well-behaved tenant, was given the flat to help her start a new life away from a former boyfriend. Council lawyers said they had rarely come across a case invoving such a level of foul abuse or a failure to respond to offers of help and second chances.

Agreeing to the possession order in March, Judge Richard Holman ruled that the evidence against Thompson was "overwhelming" -- as was the likelihood that her behaviour would change.

At one stage there were at least three dogs in the flat which Thompson was given in January of last year.