A COUPLE have been given a restraining order against their neighbours after being found guilty of harassing them.
Andrew John Giles, 40, and Jane Katrina Read, 47, of Fronwellant Farm in Llanfair Caereinion, were this week sentenced after a trial at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court for harassing their neighbours Rachel and Adrian Webb.
Giles and Read had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence, but were found guilty by magistrates.
Between January 1, 2010 and November 27, 2011, Giles and Read jointly pursued actions to cause non violent harassment of their neighbours. On various occasions between the dates Giles and Read filmed their neighbours, took photographs of them, watched them, stared at them, ran across their lawn felling their trees and laying on the lawn being abusive. They had also on occasions blocked their neighbours path with both their car and sticks.
Mitigating for the pair, Robert Hanratty said that although criminal proceedings would come to a close, “they have to resolve it between themselves”.
Magistrates gave Giles an 18 month community order with 18 months supervision and ordered him to attend a thinking skills program. He will also have to pay £700 towards prosecution costs.
Read was given a 12 month community order, ordered to attend the thinking skills program, and pay £300 towards prosecution costs.
Both Giles and Read were given a restraining order not to contact or communicate, directly or indirectly, with Mr and Mrs Webb, and also must not go beyond the boundaries of Hollybank in Llanfair Caereinion.
Magistrates said that they were not awarding compensation as they “do not want to inflame the situation”.