Wandsworth neighbour jailed for doorbell camera abuse and threats

Jemma CrewBBC NewsReporting fromKingston upon Thames Crown CourtTarah WelshHousing correspondentMetropolitan PoliceDrina Grey had “engaged in a marketing campaign of harassment” towards the younger couple residing within the flat above hersA girl who shouted threats to get her neighbours “killed” via their doorbell digital camera has been jailed for 3 years and 4 months.Kingston upon Thames Crown Court docket heard that Drina Grey had “engaged in a marketing campaign of harassment” towards the younger couple residing within the flat above hers.The 52-year-old from Wandsworth, south-west London, left her victims feeling trapped and frightened to be at residence, the courtroom was informed.Sentencing Grey on Wednesday, Choose Peter Lodder KC stated she made her neighbours’ lives “hell”, having “persistently harassed them morning, midday and night time”.Incidents included damaging their entrance door digital camera repeatedly, shouting and swearing and making threats corresponding to “watch your again and that is a warning” and “I can get you [expletive] killed”, the courtroom heard.Sufferer Ben, who owns the upstairs flat, stated he had discovered the threats “terrifying” and skilled suicidal ideas, and he’s now on remedy to handle anxiousness and despair.Ben and Emma informed the BBC that their neighbour had been making life a “distress” earlier this 12 months In a press release learn to the courtroom, he stated he was pressured to stick with family and friends, struggled to sleep, had nightmares and in the end misplaced his “peace of thoughts, well being and job”.Addressing the defendant, Choose Lodder KC stated: “You made lives of your neighbours hell.”You persistently harassed them morning, midday and night time. Regardless of orders being obtained to hunt to forestall you from behaving in the way in which you probably did, you continued in your marketing campaign.”It might be you had been below affect of alcohol however that isn’t an excuse, that’s an aggravation, and it’s no comfort in any respect to the individuals you had been threatening with excessive violence.”The courtroom heard Ben and Emma had been put via “hell” Talking exterior courtroom after the sentencing, Ben and his accomplice Emma smiled and hugged, telling the BBC they really feel “unimaginable” and “as if the battle was value it”.”It has been such a protracted and drawn-out battle,” Ben stated, including their “resilience and resistance” had paid off.”Lastly, we are able to loosen up for the primary time in two years.”Ben informed the BBC earlier this 12 months that he felt ignored by the authorities. He added that they had been “completely let down by nearly each system that we felt was there to guard us”.The courtroom case passed off on the day that the Housing Ombudsman for England informed the BBC that some social landlords had been failing victims of anti-social neighbours. The decide stated that, in addition to alcohol use, different aggravating elements had been the actual fact the victims had been in their very own residence, and Grey’s 18 earlier convictions regarding 40 offences.In mitigation, defence lawyer Tammy Sher stated Grey had skilled issues with alcohol for a very long time, and in 2023 had been concerned in two street accidents which had affected her bodily and psychological well being and brought about her alcohol use to spiral.In a letter learn out to the courtroom, Grey stated she regretted her actions and she or he had been going via a interval of poor psychological and bodily well being.Grey was sentenced for 4 expenses, together with of harassment, legal harm, and utilizing threatening, abusive or insulting phrases or behaviour with the intent of inflicting harassment, alarm or misery, spanning six months in 2024.She additionally did not adjust to a Neighborhood Safety Discover, which was handled by one other courtroom.’Adjustments are being made’The courtroom was informed Wandsworth Council, which owns the flat Grey lived in, has began eviction proceedings, and that Grey has no intention of going again to the property.The decide additionally granted a restraining order, in place for 10 years, banning her from going inside a mile of the victims’ deal with and from contacting them straight or not directly.Wandsworth Council stated it was “persevering with to hunt possession” of Grey’s property.Aydin Dikerdem, cupboard member for housing, stated: “We settle for that we might have acted extra swiftly, and following this case adjustments are being made to our anti-social behaviour case administration system to make sure the suitable actions are taken extra promptly and that complainants are stored up to date.”The Labour councillor added: “Council officers have met with the people affected to debate what additional help might be offered.”If in case you have been affected by any of the problems raised on this story you may go to BBC Motion Line.