Neighbour from hell egged couple after becoming convinced they stole his cat
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A bloke convinced that his neighbours had nicked his cat ended up throwing eggs at their front door, leaving them terrified they’d bump into him.
Roy Atherton, 56, locked himself into a dispute with an animal-loving couple who lived downstairs from him in Blackpool. His neighbours had 10 cats and Atherton got it into his head that one of them was his.
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David Clarke, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that during the summer, Atherton, of Charnley Court, repeatedly kicked the couple’s front door and shouted threats and abuse at the couple, reports Lancs Live.
Among the threats, Atherton warned them to “Watch your cat” – and when one of their animals went missing for 10 days, they thought he was responsible.
The woman said she was scared to leave her flat in case she encountered Atherton in the communal areas. “I am frightened to go to the front door to get mail,” she said.
Anthony Parkinson, for Atherton, who pleaded guilty to harassment, said his client had a long history of alcohol abuse. He’d been on a successful alcohol treatment program but had hit the booze again on his birthday.
Judge Darren Preston described the harassment as “an insidious offence”, and added: “You pleaded guilty to your frankly pathetic and childish behaviour towards your neighbours.
“In the summer of this year you repeatedly attended their flat. You kicked the door, you threw things at the property and you shouted threats and abuse. You did this despite being arrested several times.
“You made their lives miserable. You cannot behave like this in a civilised society.
“They must have been left feeling insecure and worried every time they came home, worried there would be trouble every day and every night. It is not acceptable for you to inflict this sort of misery on people.”
Atherton was given a community order with 25 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. He was also given a 12-month restraining order, banning him from contacting his neighbours in any way.
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- Cats
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