Neighbour from hell is let off with a fine

Rebecca Goodwin, 33, of Allington Way, Chippenham, appeared at the town's magistrates court last Thursday, charged with breaching an earlier restraining order issued against her on April 14.

The court was told Goodwin's elderly neighbours had recorded an appalling catalogue of noise and abuse, stretching over six months, which had left them often physically sick with the stress.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told how Wally Newbury, 77, who had lived peacefully in the area for 45 years, had seen all that change when Goodwin moved in at Christmas.

He said: "Threatening and abusive, Ms Goodwin plays loud music late into the night and has been a neighbour from hell."

In April, Goodwin was issued with a restraining order under the Prevention of Harassment Act and was also given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £50 and costs of £30.

But Mr Meeke said that on May 10, the bad behaviour started again and despite the police being called, the music continued until 2am when the group in Goodwin's flat spilled out into the road, swearing and fighting.

At 5.30am, Mr Newbury had to call a friend to come and sit with him, as the noise had left him stressed and unable to breathe properly.

"The strain on residents living near Ms Goodwin has been intolerable," said Mr Meeke, who revealed that another of Goodwin's neighbours, Esme Dixon, 68, who cares for her mentally ill daughter, was also at the end of her tether.

Goodwin admitted being in breach of her conditional discharge.

John Elliott, defending, said she was merely guilty of a lack of assertiveness.

He said: "Intrusion of third parties into her flat were the catalyst to bad behaviour. But it is inevitable that if you put a 33-year-old woman into an area with a preponderance of older people, there will be problems.

"My client appreciates that older people are entitled to live in peace and quiet but she has had lots of problems with her younger brother, who she feels a responsibility for and because of his bad behaviour has now banned him from the flat.

"Ms Goodwin has also been endeavouring to befriend older people in the vicinity and believes she is starting to achieve that."

Mr Elliott went on to ask the court for a financial penalty.

After reading reports submitted by the defence, magistrates stressed the charges were very serious, but they felt that Goodwin had shown remorse and were satisfied that she was now making efforts to establish good neighbour relations.

Imposing a new conditional discharge for nine months, magistrates also fined Goodwin £50 for breaching the restraining order. The original restraining order was also kept in place.

Speaking after the hearing, neighbours said they felt shocked and let down by the verdict.

"We think very little of it," said one man, who did not want to be identified for fear of recriminations." It is just a waste of time.

"One day Goodwin is very apologetic about the noise, the next day she starts off again."

Another neighbour said: "She has the music on at full blast, she swears all the time.

"Children as young as 14 visit the house and groups of 12 to 15 sit out on the grass in front of the house.

"I live a few doors away. My cupboard literally shakes, the china jumps up and down on the shelves, when the music is so loud.

"We started by complaining to Westlea Housing which said we had to fill out these complaint sheets.

"They kept saying they would soon send a final warning and she would get evicted.

"But they sent her six final warnings. What is a final warning when you get it six times? I feel like nobody is taking our complaint seriously. Nobody wants to do anything about it at all."

Westlea Housing Association spokesman Nick Taylor said he was unable to comment on the individual case of Rebecca Goodwin, but maintained that the association takes all complaints of anti-social behaviour seriously.

"We recently put in place a new policy to deal with anti-social behaviour," he said. "Unfortunately, people reporting problems often feel things don't happen soon enough.

"This is often because of the research and relevant procedures we have to put into place.

"But every complaint is acknowledged and acted upon as quickly as possible and if there is a serious complaint we will act on it."

Steven King, the vice-chairman of Chippenham Area Tenants Group, and an estates management member of Westlea's tenant groups, said he was appalled by the court's verdict.

He said: "The sentence and fine imposed on Ms Goodwin do not reflect the severity of the offence or the considerable suffering elderly tenants have suffered over the past six months.

"Twenty-four different incidents have been reported in writing to Westlea regarding Ms Goodwin, but regrettably, it was up to the residents to take action with the police, as the association did not take any legal action against the offender."

Mr King claims more than 100 other Westlea residents are suffering at the hands of anti-social neighbours.

"For four years now Westlea has had the ability to work against neighbours from hell by applying for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders," he said.

"Since they were introduced, magistrates in Wiltshire have only imposed one full order and I am unaware of Westlea ever applying for one."

But Mr Taylor said: "We do expect a certain standard of behaviour from our tenants and if this is not upheld and they break their tenancy agreement, we can serve a notice of possession on their property and if necessary seek a court injunction although these things do take time."

Westlea residents who are experiencing problems with their neighbours are asked to contact Mr King and the Residents' Association care of Debbie Waite at the Gazette, 31 Market Place, Chippenham, SN15 3HP or e-mail dwaite@newswilts.co.uk