A Southminster man who waged a relentless two-year campaign of harassment against his neighbours has been slapped with a five-year criminal behaviour order on top of existing court penalties.
Peter Rushton, 43, of North End, was already serving an 18-week suspended prison sentence and had been fined £650 after being found guilty in his absence at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in June of criminal damage, harassment and breaching a community protection notice.
The additional five-year criminal behaviour order was granted by Southend Magistrates' Court on September 3 following a police application, complementing an existing five-year restraining order designed to protect his victims.
Rushton failed to appear at his trial in March.
The court heard the harassment campaign involved sophisticated surveillance tactics, with Rushton using home-fitted CCTV equipment to monitor his victims' movements.
He would play alarms and bombard the couple with abuse whenever they returned home, creating a climate of fear and distress that lasted two years.
His activities extended to property damage, including destroying an aviary belonging to his neighbours.
The sustained abuse prompted intervention from both Essex Police and Maldon District Council, who worked together to address the escalating situation.
Investigating officer PC Luke Jones described it as "a neighbourhood dispute which got out of control."
He said: "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."
The comprehensive criminal behaviour order imposes strict conditions prohibiting Rushton from damaging his victims' property, sending any correspondence, throwing objects into their garden, or spraying water or substances at their property or vehicles.
Additional restrictions ban him from harassing, assaulting or intimidating anyone, including emergency service workers, and from using abusive or threatening language in the neighbourhood.
Breaches of either the criminal behaviour order or restraining order could result in imprisonment or further fines.
PC Jones added: "I worked with Maldon District Council to tackle the situation from several angles, with noise complaints managed by the council.
"I hope this case demonstrates that we take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and will work with partners to find long-term solutions."
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