Homeowner played loud recordings of monkeys and chickens in the middle of the night to terrorise his neighbours in their £300k property
A BULLYING neighbour made a couple's lives a "nightmare" by playing loud recordings of MONKEY and CHICKEN noises to wake them in the early hours.
Ian Wheatcroft, who tormented his neighbours for more than two years, also smeared dog poo across their garden and pointed CCTV cameras at their property.
Wheatcroft, 44, also used an angle grinder just inches from Clive and Alice Jones's car in what a judge said was a "deeply criminal act".
Mr and Mrs Jones shared a driveway with Wheatcroft outside their homes in Totton near Southampton, Hampshire.
Cruise firm director Mr Jones, 44, and his wife felt they couldn't use their garden as Wheatcroft had CCTV cameras pointed at it.
When the the couple were forced to give away their beloved cat, Wheatcroft taunted them by putting up a poster in view of their house which showed a cartoon cat with it's middle finger up.
A defence barrister told magistrates in an earlier hearing that a feud broke out between the neighbours because of noise complaints, but an order was then placed which prevents the press from publishing further details.
District Judge Anthony Callaway launched a blistering attack on Wheatcroft at Southampton Magistrates' Court today.
Wheatcroft had denied harassment but was convicted after a four-day trial.
Judge Callaway told him he was a "well-practised liar"; who was "staggeringly arrogant".
He was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years, a fine of £1,870, and a three-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Mr and Mrs Jones.
Passing sentence, the judge said: "Over the course of four days in this trial I can firmly say I am of the view that your arrogance is quite staggering, quite staggering indeed.
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"First of all, the length of time this harassment has elapsed is remarkable, this is not a one off - it's a course of control.
"Noise has been demonstrated (to the court) coming from your house in the early hours of the morning, damage to the property has also similarly been demonstrated.
"How anybody could take an angle grinder, crouch down and use it in such proximity to a car when it can do serious damage, is beyond me - it's a deeply criminal act.
"You have disturbed their lives and at times made living there a horrible experience.
";This was no ordinary neighbourly dispute, this was a serious course of harassment - it had a big impact on them and the value of their home.
"Nobody can be punished for contesting claims in court as everyone has the right to a fair trial, but during the course of this trial I've noticed a complete absence of remorse from you.
"Your conduct is unacceptable and after listening to you it is easy to tell you are a well-practised liar.
"You are 44 and of previous good character but perhaps it's a surprise you have gone this long without getting in trouble."
The court heard Wheatcroft, who must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, has moved into his mother's house with his partner Amanda and has put his home up for sale.
Prosecutor Charles Nightingale told the court that since the start of the trial Wheatcroft has harassed the Jones on three more occasions.
He said: "On August 22, Mr Jones was on his driveway and Mr Wheatcroft was in his car in the garage and he gave him the middle finger.
"On September 4, Mr and Mrs Jones were watching TV and were disturbed by loud bass noise vibrations coming from their neighbour's house."
He added that on another occasion another family member was shown the middle finger by Wheatcroft.
Speaking after his sentencing, Mr Jones said he was "relieved" justice had been done.
He said: "The harassment was a living nightmare, now we can get on with our lives.
"We are very relieved he's moving, for him to tell the court that they want to move is a great feeling.
"It's such a relief. Justice has been done and I'm really thankful to the authorities for their help."
Keely Harvey, defending Wheatcroft, said: "In an endeavour to bring this to an end, he has said he will not return to the
address.
"One can see he's been trying to show to the court this is the end of it and that he's got a new start."
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