A flatulent tormenter has been branded a neighbor from hell after issuing a series of threats towards the man living next door, in a months-long campaign. Edward Riley, 44, was reported to the police after abusive and disruptive behavior included breaking wind and burping loudly through their adjourning wall, as well as shining a bright torchlight in his neighbor’s face whenever the pair came into contact.
READ MORE: Mum’s fatal cliff fall after row with boyfriend was accident
The father-of-one from Cheadle in Greater Manchester threatened to burn Mr Joynson’s house down and said: “I’ll put your f****** head through the door.” He accompanied his abusive behavior by often blasting loud music through the walls.
In a statement, My Joynson said: “’I live in constant fear that he will burn the house down, I know what he’s capable of. He’s only six feet away from me at all times.”
He added: “’He has pushed me to the edge, and no one has the right to harass me like this. He’s banging, shouting, and raving all the time.’”
At Stockport Magistrate’s Court, Riley was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail suspended for 12 months after he admitted harassment. He will also complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £128.
Hannah Nicholls, prosecuting, said: “The parties became neighbors when the defendant moved in around June 2021 and there were problems from the outset.”
The prosecution described one instance where Mr. Riley blocked the door into a communal area of the building they were living in. When the complainant asked him to move the blocking item, he got aggressive and started to “take pictures” of Mr Joynson.
In another argument, the court heard Mr Riley threatened to burn down Mr Joynson’s house after getting into a row over an old mattress placed in the wrong bin area.
The court heard Mr Joynson has since moved to another property. Riley has 19 previous offenses on his record, the majority of which involve breaches of restraining orders against his ex-partner, with whom he fathered a child.
In mitigation, Riley’s lawyer Helen White said: “’There are always two sides to every story. The complainant has certainly done some of the provocation, but the defendant accepts that he simply went too far. His behavior crossed the line.”
The court also heard Mr Riley had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and PTSD and was not on medication at the time of the incidents. The father-of-one is now taking medication and is making improvements with his mental health.
In sentencing, JP Walter Barrett told Riley: ‘You really are the proverbial neighbor from hell. I know you have had some trouble with your mental health, but you have a terrible record. It’s horrendous. The reason we are not sending you to jail is because you have been taking your medication and have started seeing your child again.”