Pc suspended over lawn mower row

A police officer faces disciplinary action after being convicted of causing a breach of the peace for leaving a lawn mower running to annoy neighbours.

Pc Alistair Edgar, 54, and his wife were upset by their new Brighton neighbours' renovations, magistrates in Worthing, West Sussex heard.

The court heard Edgar then ran a "loud, high-pitched" lawn mower for hours while leaving it against a wall.

The Pc has been suspended while Sussex Police decide on further action.

The court ruled that if Edgar, a constable in Brighton with more than 30 years service, breaches the peace again within 12 months he will be fined £300.

At its worst it felt like living in the middle of a runway at Heathrow Sophie Fox

A police spokesman said: "He is suspended and now it remains to be seen whether there is any internal disciplinary matter to be taken by the professional standards department."

Tony Stanford, defending Mr Edgar, said his client had resorted to his electric mower "out of pure exasperation" and his career could now be affected.

Sour relationship

Relations between the neighbours turned sour when Christopher and Sophie Fox moved to next door to the Edgars in Brighton, East Sussex in 2003.

Mr Fox said: "We got letters from him and his solicitor saying we could not do certain things with the driveway while we were having the lawn replaced."

Sophie Fox said the confrontations had had a deep impact on the family.

"At its worst it felt like living in the middle of a runway at Heathrow. We couldn't use our garden at all."

"He would turn the lawn mower off as soon as we went out," she added.

Filmed confrontations

The Foxes set up a camera to record confrontations with the Edgars, recording eight hours of footage which they gave to police.

Both the Edgars were originally charged with harassment but on Monday the court accepted their not guilty pleas.

Sixty-three-year-old Mrs Edgar is to appear before magistrates later this month, and is expected to be cautioned.