Prison for neighbour from hell

A man whose behaviour made his neighbours' lives a misery for years has been jailed for a year.

Stuart Milne, 49, of Bedford, has been in court four times since 1997 for criminal damage and harassment, Luton Crown Court was told on Friday.

Judge Richard Foster said his behaviour had been deplorable.

Milne admitted criminal damage and making threats to endanger life. He was warned on release he would face an eight-year anti-social behaviour order.

Laura Davidson, prosecuting, said two neighbours found Milne had drilled holes in a garage wall and a newly-built extension.

Your behaviour has been deplorable. You have made your neighbours' lives a misery Judge Richard Foster

Then while on bail for those offences he told his probation officer there was a gas leak in his house which would put an end to the neighbours' dispute as all the houses would blow up.

Gas officials found a leak and made the property safe.

Stephen Akinsanya, defending, said Milne, who had lived in the house since 1958, had not come to terms with the death of his parents in the 1980s.

"He has also increased his alcohol consumption and acknowledges his behaviour was untoward and irrational.

"But he has been working on his problems and with the ASBO in place there will be stringent rules with which he will have to comply."

Judge Foster said there was not alternative to a custodial sentence: "Your behaviour has been deplorable. You have made your neighbours' lives a misery."