Aristocrat cleared of harassment

Neighbours praised Lady Uxbridge, but described her as "eccentric"

A countess has been cleared of harassing her neighbour in west London.

The Countess of Uxbridge, 54, put up banners accusing Rosemary Brown of causing a crime wave in her exclusive Notting Hill street.

But Judge Simon Cooper told West London Magistrates' Court her unconventional methods did not constitute harassment.

Lady Uxbridge said she was only trying to protect the residents below Ms Brown whom she accused of persecuting them.

The court heard evidence from other neighbours that Michael Moghim and his elderly mother had been subjected to noise pollution from Ms Brown's flat.

Mr Moghim described it as a "living hell" and said 20 or 30 people a day would tramp in and out of the house in Blenheim Crescent to visit Ms Brown and her partner Patrick Hibbert.

Lady Uxbridge said there had been constant trouble with late night comings and goings.

She was arrested in January 2001 after Ms Brown told police she had "babbled" into her intercom, pressed the doorbell and run away.

I cannot accept that Rosemary Brown was genuinely distressed or that the defendant's behaviour was so unreasonable as to amount to harassment Judge Simon Cooper

The countess, who was released without charge, said she was so distressed she became agoraphobic and believed Ms Brown had a vendetta against her.

She said she put up numerous signs, including ones reading: "Stop lying to the police" and one accusing Ms Brown and Mr Hibbert, of bringing crime to the house.

She wrongly believed Mr Hibbert had been convicted of assault, the three-day trial heard.

One eight-foot-square blue tarpaulin banner daubed in red paint was draped over Lady Uxbridge's silver Volvo.

Ms Brown said it made her so uncomfortable she was forced to move out of the flat in May last year.

But the judge said, after considering the "very considerable disruption and ... numerous visitors" in Ms Brown's flat: "I cannot accept that Rosemary Brown was genuinely distressed or that the defendant's behaviour was so unreasonable as to amount to harassment."

As the verdict was delivered the countess gave a double thumbs up sign and said: "Thank you, your honour".

Neighbours described the aristocrat, known locally as Georgie, as eccentric but praised her community spirit and the way she used her house as an ongoing "artwork".

Other posters making witty references to current affairs and other items were on display at the house, the court heard.