Pilkington neighbour speaks out

Julia Pilkington bought the title 'Lady'

A man who gave evidence of a campaign of harassment by Julia Pilkington has said he is disappointed that she was not sent to prison.

Pilkington, an heiress of the famous glass-making family, was sentenced on Friday to 180 hours community service and given a restraining order for four charges of harassment against her neighbours.

Portsmouth magistrates court heard how Pilkington would often shout abuse at neighbours, and took part in sexual activities in her outdoor spa bath in order to intimidate them.

The restraining order bans her from returning to her £250,000 seaside home in Eastlake Heights, Southsea, Hampshire, or the surrounding area for five years.

Community service

One neighbour who gave evidence of a sustained campaign of insults was insurance broker Victor Childs.

After the sentencing, he said he was disappointed that Pilkington had not been jailed as he believed she would not learn anything from community service.

The 57-year-old said he had been told by the daughter of a vicar that he was a pervert, allegedly due to a rumour spread by Pilkington.

He said: "I am disappointed really, I do not think it's actually a punishment that is going to help her.

"She just sees everything as an opportunity to get round the system."

Behaviour plea

Although Pilkington was sentenced for incidents between December 2000 and July 2001, Mr Childs said there had been problems since she had moved in, 12 years ago.

"What stuck in my throat from her sentencing in court was the fact that the judge said she would not go to jail because of her previous good behaviour - it's just so ironic."

Mr Childs said he put a lot of her behavioural problems down to the fact that the heiress did not have to work for a living. She receives £2,000 a month from a trust fund.

He said: "One of her favourite sayings was 'Get a life', but the sad truth is that she didn't have one."

Pilkington is the granddaughter of the late Lord Harry Pilkington who was the chairman of the St Helen's-based glass manufacturing company during the 1960s and 1970s.