Neighbour from hell prosecuted
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
23/04/2008
A Fulham man who claimed he bombarded his neighbours with a barrage of noise as a 'cry for help' has been fined for making his victims' lives a living hell.
Bayaz Uchaghlou of Sedlescombe Road, SW6, repeatedly ignored warnings from Hammersmith & Fulham Council to keep the noise down and was found guilty of breaching an abatement notice.
Noise menace Uchaghlou was ordered to quieten down following numerous complaints from sleepless neighbours that he was watching television at full volume in the early hours of the morning.
Uchaghlou told environmental health officers that the vengeful barrage of noise he inflicted on others was a 'cry for help', as he believed neither the council nor his housing association had taken notice of issues he had with his neighbour.
Officers seized hi-fi and television equipment during their investigations and found Uchaghlou had taken matters into his own hands by placing a television high on top of boxes so that it was just 10cm away from the ceiling. Uchaghlou’s weapon of choice was a constant stream of early morning BBC News bulletins, every word of which could be heard clearly in the flat above.
Uchaghlou was ordered by West London Magistrates Court to pay over £1,000 – a fine of £150 and £890 in costs to the council. The magistrates also passed a forfeiture order meaning Uchaghlou must give up his stereo and TVs.
Councillor Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Anti-Social Behaviour, said: “Uchaghlou has shown complete disregard for the law and for his neighbours, claiming that he was the victim in this situation.
“His reasons for causing a despicable racket were unfounded and I hope that by taking away his stereo and televisions he will now be powerless to inflict such misery on his neighbours, who just want a quiet life.”
From mid April, Hammersmith & Fulham’s Environmental Protection Service will be issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to people or businesses that breaches their noise abatement notices.
The fines, which must be paid within 28 days, are £100 for residents and £400 for businesses, industries or trades. If paid within 14 days, they are reduced to £60 or £240 respectively.
