Gateshead man prosecuted and equipment seized
A Gateshead man has been fined £750 and had his noise making equipment seized for playing his music and television loudly.
Graham Walker, of Sheriffs Close in Felling, was prosecuted after being served with an Abatement Notice for making his neighbour's lives a misery - by playing his music and television so loudly that neighbours likened the noise to being in a cinema.
Mr Walker was served the notice for repeatedly playing loud music and his television loudly during the day, late at night and in the early hours of the morning.
Our Private Sector Housing Team were asked to help and they repeatedly warned Mr Walker about the noise, but all attempts to get him to change his behaviour failed. He was then served with an Abatement Notice. However, the loud music and television coming from Mr Walkers home continued. After receiving further evidence of loud music and loud television noise , officers obtained a warrant to enter his home and seize all noise-making equipment.
Mr Walker was summonsed to appear at Magistrates' Court in October 2021 to answer the charge of failing comply with an Abatement Notice but failed to attend. The prosecution was heard in his absence. Mr Walker was fined £500, £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge. We also made an application to the court for an order for forfeiture and destruction of the Large TV, DVD player and two large speakers that were seized from Mr Walker's home as officers were concerned if his equipment was returned to him he would continue to cause a nuisance. The Magistrates were satisfied that Mr Walker should not get this equipment back and the order was granted.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board said: "Residents have a right to live peacefully in their homes, free from unreasonable noise. Mr Walker blatantly ignored the warnings we gave him, he had plenty of opportunity to change his behaviour, but he chose not to.
"Repeatedly breaching a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act is a serious matter. The Act is there to protect ordinary people, and in this case, neighbours clearly needed the protection of the law. We will continue to take action against people who harass their neighbours in this way."
A Gateshead man has been fined £750 and had his noise making equipment seized for playing his music and television loudly.
Graham Walker, of Sheriffs Close in Felling, was prosecuted after being served with an Abatement Notice for making his neighbour's lives a misery - by playing his music and television so loudly that neighbours likened the noise to being in a cinema.
Mr Walker was served the notice for repeatedly playing loud music and his television loudly during the day, late at night and in the early hours of the morning.
Our Private Sector Housing Team were asked to help and they repeatedly warned Mr Walker about the noise, but all attempts to get him to change his behaviour failed. He was then served with an Abatement Notice. However, the loud music and television coming from Mr Walkers home continued. After receiving further evidence of loud music and loud television noise , officers obtained a warrant to enter his home and seize all noise-making equipment.
Mr Walker was summonsed to appear at Magistrates' Court in October 2021 to answer the charge of failing comply with an Abatement Notice but failed to attend. The prosecution was heard in his absence. Mr Walker was fined £500, £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge. We also made an application to the court for an order for forfeiture and destruction of the Large TV, DVD player and two large speakers that were seized from Mr Walker's home as officers were concerned if his equipment was returned to him he would continue to cause a nuisance. The Magistrates were satisfied that Mr Walker should not get this equipment back and the order was granted.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board said: "Residents have a right to live peacefully in their homes, free from unreasonable noise. Mr Walker blatantly ignored the warnings we gave him, he had plenty of opportunity to change his behaviour, but he chose not to.
"Repeatedly breaching a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act is a serious matter. The Act is there to protect ordinary people, and in this case, neighbours clearly needed the protection of the law. We will continue to take action against people who harass their neighbours in this way."
