A SOUTHMINSTER man has been given a restraining order after he terrorised his neighbours by bombarding them with abuse, sounding random alarms, and monitoring them with home-fitted CCTV.
Peter Rushton, 43, carried out the two-year campaign of harassment which involved him damaging a neighbour's aviary and ignoring a community protection warning and community protection notice.
He was charged with criminal damage, causing harassment without violence and failing to comply with a community protection notice, but denied all the charges ahead of a trial which he then failed to turn up to.
Rushton, of North End, Southminster, was found guilty in absence before being sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, a five-year restraining order, and a £650 fine at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
After the case, investigating officer PC Luke Jones said a breach of the restraining order would result in Rushton facing a jail term.
He said: “This was a neighbourhood dispute which got out of control.
Rushton conducted a sustained campaign of abuse and harassment against the couple over two years, breaching a community protection warning and a community protection notice as he did so, which caused them acute distress.
“He used a home-fitted CCTV device to monitor the victims, playing alarms and bombarding them with abuse when they returned home and he even damaged an aviary.”
PC Jones continued by saying Essex Police worked with Maldon District Council to tackle Rushton’s behaviour.
“I worked with Maldon District Council to tackle the situation from several angles, with noise complaints managed by the council.
“I am pleased the court has imposed a five-year restraining order on Rushton.
Should he breach it, he will be put back before a court and could face jail or a hefty fine.
“I hope this case demonstrates that we take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and will work with partners to find long-term solutions.
"I urge anyone who is experiencing anti-social behaviour to report it to us either online via our website or by ringing 101.
If you wish to report it anonymously, contact the independent Crimestoppers charity.”
Reports of anti-social can also be made online via www.essex.police.uk/ro.
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