Ref. 21449-14 Richard and Fiona HarpinNUISANCE neighbour Terence Griffin has been back in court to appeal against his sentence for failing to provide information to Swindon Council.

Unemployed father-of-six Griffin, 53, was fined £400 and ordered to pay £700 in costs by magistrates earlier this year for failing to tell the authority who had legal rights to his Goddard Avenue house an argument that ensued after he built a balcony overlooking his neighbour's garden without planning permission.

His neighbours, Richard and Fiona Harpin, say they have suffered years of abuse at the hands of Griffin. They have even had him prosecuted under the Harassment Act.

But removing the balcony is proving impossible because he has not supplied the names of those with a legal interest in the house.

In October magistrates convicted him of failing to comply with a notice served under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a charge he denied.

Last week, Griffin appeared at Swindon Crown Court to defend himself in a bid to have his sentence overturned.

Griffin told Judge John McNaught: "This is a very important matter to me I can't get defence locally because of prejudicial press coverage." He added that his ordeal had been "vindictive, cloak-and-dagger and horrendous".

Prosecution counsel, Sam Butterfield, said that in order for the council to begin enforcement action it required details of those with legal rights of ownership in the property.

He said that in spite of a notice being served and correspondence being entered into, Griffin had failed to provide the necessary information a criminal offence.

The question was, he said, whether Griffin had a reasonable excuse in failing to provide this information.

Judge McNaught adjourned the case until the end of February in order for Griffin to find legal representation.

However, he warned Griffin his appeal would proceed then regardless and if it failed he would have to pay costs.

Griffin, who declined to speak to the Evening Advertiser after the hour-long hearing, told the judge: "I have been through a nightmare you have put some faith back into the justice system for me by your manner and politeness and I thank you for that."

gsheldrick@newswilts.co.uk