Noisy Harold Hill neighbour handed £1,000 court bill

​A noisy neighbour might be keeping the volume down after being prosecuted for repeatedly disturbing her elderly neighbour into the early hours with loud music and shouting.

Victoria Barnett, of Edenhall Road, Harold Hill, was prosecuted at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on February 6 for a breach of an abatement notice. She was fined £400, ordered to pay £550 costs and a victim surcharge of £40.

Havering Council carried out a lengthy investigation since receiving a complaint back in 2006 and tried to resolve the issue with no luck.

An abatement notice, which can be served by the council to stop or limit noise amounting to a “statutory nuisance”, was served in January 2012, but it didn’t stop and court action followed.

Cllr Osman Dervish, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “We expect all of our residents to respect each other and be neighbourly, but where there is a problem we will help to solve disputes like noise nuisance.

“Unfortunately on this occasion, the offender ignored the good advice she was given and we had to take tougher action.”

Residents who are having a problem with noise can get advice and download an information pack on the noise problems page of havering.gov.uk.