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Nightmare neighbour gets ASBO
By Andy Richardson
Jan 19, 2005, 08:49

A Cannock man has been given an anti-social behaviour order and his wife fined after the couple admitted subjecting neighbours to an 18-month ordeal of abuse involving swearing, banging on doors and playing loud music.

Cannock magistrates yesterday imposed the ASBO on 48-year-old Peter Douglas from Longford Road after hearing a catalogue of incidents involving anti-social behaviour against his neighbours.

Douglas and his 34-year-old wife Emma both pleaded guilty to seven charges of breaching a noise abatement order between February 19 2003 and April 12 2004.

The couple, dubbed "neighbours from hell" were each fined £500 and told to pay prosecution costs of £500 each.

Prosecuting Mr Tony Watkin said the neighbours had endured an 18-month ordeal at the hands of the couple and their three young children.

"Neighbours have had to endure all types of anti-social behaviour including swearing, shouting, loud music and banging on walls and doors," he said. "The neighbours are long suffering and have endured this since mid 2003."

One one occasion Douglas hurled abuse at police who swooped on his home following complaints from neighbours and while he was still naked arrested him after he had just got out of the bath.

Defending Mr Geoffrey Dann said neighbours had failed to show sympathy towards Douglas who suffers from a condition called Asperger's Syndrome which causes him to habitually swear.

"Mr Douglas does suffer from a medical condition known as Asperger's Syndrome," he said. "I think this needs to be taken into consideration."

Speaking after the hearing neighbour Melanie Till and partner Paul Bailey said they hoped their 18 month ordeal would come to a close.
heh


I have always been bit of a swearer

LOL
LOL OK whatever... Wink

Maybe I should try to get an ASBO against our neighbours - they are constantly shouting at their kids, throwing stuff around, swearing, listening to really loud music etc. Those poor kids must be traumatised! The banging on walls is us tho, but only in reaction to their karaoke parties (that usually end in enormous rows) on Sunday nights  :roll:
It would be interesting to hear the story from the man himself, there is a slight chance he may see this, if he does I hope he could consider giving it from his side.
It would be very interesting to hear this man's side of the story.  I always despair when I hear stories like these.  There's always that question in the back of my mind "should I attempt to understand?", or "should I condemn?"

The increase in awareness of AS/Autism in wider society has its pluses and minuses it would seem.  On on one hand, it allows people like myself (and others on here I'm sure) access to the services and support we need to function in society.  However, for some an AS (or similar) diagnosis can be a 'get out of jail free card' (literally in some cases), for their inexcusible behaviour.

When I look back on my life I can identify particular actions of mine (which I shall not discuss here) which make me cringe and feel throughly ashamed.  Was AS a contributing factor to any of these disgraceful episodes? Possibly, was it an excuse?  Certainly not.
Allow me to quote pretty much everyone on Fandom_Wank whenever Aspergers is cited as an excuse:

"Please stop having my disorder, you're making my disorder look stupid"
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