Baby death threat neighbour guilty

The court heard of Evans's campaign of threats

A judge has described a 75-year-old woman who threatened to kill her neighbour's baby, as the "original neighbour from hell".

At Cardiff Crown Court, widow Dorothy Evans of Park Crescent, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, was found guilty of breaching a restraining order during a long-running "war" with the Edwards family living next door.

You are a manipulative and vindictive old woman who clearly harrassed your neighbours. You are the original neighbour from hell

Judge David Morris

During that time Evans threatened to kill their baby boy and attacked their car with a sweeping brush.

Warning Evans that she could face jail, Judge David Morris said: "You are a manipulative and vindictive old woman who clearly harrassed your neighbours. You are the original neighbour from hell."

A jury took an hour to find Evans - who was released on bail pending pre-sentencing reports - guilty of seven charges of breaching a restraining order.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Evans told father-to-be Julian Edwards: "The baby could be born dead yet."

Evans denied all charges against her

It was also claimed that when the pensioner saw heavily pregnant Andrea Edwards outside her home she made a comment about the size of her rear end.

Huw Wallace, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr Edwards was driving home when he saw Evans sweeping the pavement with a brush," said Mr Wallace.

"He parked and she approached and stabbed her brush onto the side panel of the car."

The jury heard that some months later Mr Edwards was putting out some rubbish and had closed the door behind him because the newborn baby was in the house.

I will get that baby. I will kill it

Pensioner Dorothy Evans

Mr Wallace said: "Evans was leaning out of the window and said: 'Fancy leaving the baby on his own, I hope he dies of cot death'. "

The hearing was told how on another occasion, Mrs Edwards had arrived home and got out of her car when Evans told her: "I will get that baby. I will kill it".

Ms Evans is also accused of drawing her finger across her throat at Mr Edward's mother, Valerie Edwards, and at another neighbour, Margaret Jones.

Mr Wallace said: "This was abuse which was both frightening and intimidating.

'Frighten and intimidate'

"After making these threats Evans, who is sprightly for her age, ran to her own home and barricaded herself in.

Evans was fined a year ago for harassment and was under a restraining order.

Cardiff Crown Court was told Evans broke the order and continued to frighten and intimidate her neighbours.

A jury took an hour to find her guilty of seven charges of breaching a restraining order.

She was released on bail pending pre-sentencing reports.