Spice Girls hits are not what Lenton neighbours really, really want
A MAN who drove neighbours mad by blaring out loud music has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Gavin Townroe played songs, including Viva Forever, by the Spice Girls, so loud that one neighbour at Digby Court, in Lenton, had to be signed off sick from work due to lack of sleep.
Other people living in the block of flats would even leave their homes just to get away from the noise.
Townroe, 33, ended up in Nottingham County Court after ignoring an injunction which demanded he keep the volume down. Community Protection officers investigated the problem after neighbours bombarded them with complaints.
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Townroe has now been given a six-week suspended jail term for breaching the antisocial behaviour injunction after officers went to the flats and heard loud music still playing.
One of his neighbours, Salah Alsayed, 33, told the Post he first complained about the problem in January last year.
He said: "It was different music – rock, dance, R&B – and the police have been here many times. I like music too – but not like that.
"Friday, Saturday, you don't mind, but seven days a week it's very difficult to deal with.
"Sometimes it would happen in the mornings, seven, eight o'clock."
He added: "It's taken nearly two years to come to this."
Wayne Cliff, an enforcement officer from Canning Circus Police Station, told the court he heard the Spice Girls blasting out from Townroe's flat.
He said: "Despite being warned, Mr Townroe had a total disregard for his neighbours and for the antisocial behaviour injunction placed upon him.
"I'd like to thank residents for their commitment and determination in providing evidence to enable such action to be taken and hope this case reassures residents that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated."
In court, Townroe admitted that he might have played music loudly or allowed other people in to his flat who put music on. But he could not remember many of the incidents neighbours complained of as he was drunk at the time, the court was told.
Digby Court is run by Nottingham City Homes and is one of five blocks of flats off Church Street, Lenton.
Nottingham City Homes director of housing Gill Moy said: "Neighbours should never be subjected to antisocial behaviour like this and the court's actions back up how serious it is. The playing of loud music at all times is unacceptable and something we treat seriously to make sure our tenants and residents can live a peaceful life in their own homes."
The Post could not contact Townroe yesterday.
Comments
by CALTHROSS
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 10:47AM
“ptpnotts,believe me I know what you mean,not sure who is worse,the ones making the noise or the rotten uncaring attitude from the now called noise pollution dept.
We've filled in forms and kept records but to no avail.
Also agree with the-crossed,noisy neighbours need to be dealt with more swiftly,the present system is useless.Others have also remarked on the same issue.
I don't think the authorities take noise nuisance seriously enough.
As one tenant said from Digby Court,Lenton,noise makes you ill,which it does.
It certainly is not a joke.
Some find it funny,even to those you turn to help for think it amusing.
Don't think they will find it funny when it happens to them.”
by dcrane
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:04PM
“I'm wondering what sort of help this man has been offered, because he's obviously got some sort of mental health issue! If he's not offered help, then presumably, he'll just carry on regardless until he's imprisoned and then just go back to doing the same thing when he gets out. Surely some alarm bells must ring when someone behaves in such extreme, bizarre, anti-social ways? Or do alarm bells ring but no one cares?”
by royclarke
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 4:22PM
“There should a group of volunteers (I would gladly be one) who are sent round to the homes of these selfish scum bags. These volunteers would be armed with lump hammers for smashing up any equipment that plays music. Q.E.D.”
by NFFC1898
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:53PM
“Trashy music - trashy never worked pr@tt!!”
by the-crossed
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:49PM
“The system needs changing so noisy neighbours can be dealt with much more quickly.
Noise pollution is no joke!”
by Dave_Nottm
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:26PM
“Townroe was also ordered to attend an educational course to improve his taste in music.”
by whyler
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:48AM
“We live in Clifton we had the same problem also noisy motor bikes and troublesome youths causing havoc city homes and the police were excellent in stopping it it took a while but its now very quiet in the roads near us.”
by ptpnotts
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:17AM
“If this happens to you then don't expect the police / council to do anything to help. I had to deal with this for over a year and kept records etc but it didn't help at all. what did help is turning up on the noisy neighbours doorstep at 3.00am in a less than happy mood - Never happened again!”