33 items taken from noisy neighbour

A MAN has had 33 items of electrical equipment confiscated after playing music so loud it made neighbours' picture frames vibrate.

David Myrie, of Ashwell Gardens, Hyson Green, appeared shocked when Nottingham magistrates told him he had to forfeit the goods, including TVs, CD players, cassette players and speakers.

The unemployed 50-year-old was also ordered to pay a total of £265 in fines and costs after admitting three charges of breaching a noise abatement notice.

Di Matthews, prosecuting, said a member of Nottingham City Council's pollution control service responded to complaints and witnessed "noise nuisance" after midnight on May 8, May 31 and June 7.

The court heard he was served with a noise abatement notice on June 1, 2005, and was convicted in 2006 of breaching it.

At that stage there was no forfeiture order for Myrie's electrical items and he later collected them from the council's offices.

Mrs Matthews said these were removed by council bailiffs on June 25 this year after the three latest offences.

She told the court that on May 8, an officer could hear the lyrics and bass of the music from the complainant's bedroom and lounge.

On May 31, music and shouting was heard.

The court heard officers also arrived at 1.35am on June 7 after complaints.

"Music, shouting and stamping was heard and it was observed that picture frames in the complainant's lounge were vibrating," said Mrs Matthews.

Myrie, representing himself, urged magistrates not to take his electrical equipment.

"I would like my things back," he said.

"I am having problems with downstairs.

"They keep banging, and take out my mains fuse. They keep harassing me. I want to move away from there."

Myrie was fined £50 for each offence and ordered to pay £100 toward the council's costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Among the items confiscated were: an AKAI turntable, a Marantz amplifier, 14 speakers, a tape deck, three CD-radio-cassette players, a portable CD player, four radios, a radio cassette, three television sets, three video players and a DVD player.

The father-of-three said after the hearing: "Sometimes I play music and people get carried away. I have had enough. I just want to move."

Last week, a woman had TVs, hi-fis and games consoles seized after noise nuisance caused by her children while she was out.

Theresa Francis, of Faulconbridge Close, Bulwell, was also ordered to pay £315 after pleading guilty to four charges of breaching a noise abatement notice on March 9, and May 3, 18 and 21 this year.

jon.robinson@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk