Asbo for nuisance neighbour who played Bruce Springsteen on repeat until 1am » Communities » 24dash.com

A pensioner from the "Beverly Hills" area of Mansfield was handed an interim Asbo today for tormenting his neighbours by blasting Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA on repeat until 1am.

John Norman, 61, was handed the three-week order at Mansfield Magistrates' Court after the council received more than 100 complaints from his neighbours.

Robert Papp-Burnett, 54, and his partner Patricia Bartrup-Jones, 63, allegedly had bamboo plants in their garden cut down by Norman, who worked for the water board before he retired.

On one occasion the couple, who live next door to Norman in the Berry Hill area of Mansfield, allegedly heard him sing Auld Lang Syne at the top of his voice while vacuuming.

Details of the campaign waged against the couple, who live in a suburb of Mansfield dubbed by the district council as the "Beverly Hills" of the town, were revealed in papers submitted to the court today.

The papers revealed that the campaign against Mr Papp-Burnett and Ms Bartrup-Jones started in January.

The council said the number of incidents had reached 205.

Norman allegedly tormented Mr Papp-Burnett, a retired recycling worker, by calling him "Rodge" and continually asking him if he was going to the tip.

He also teased him about his parking. On one occasion, Norman said: "All right Rodge, you haven't bumped into anything this time, Rodge. You usually bump into something when you come in. It can't do your car any good, keep bumping in to things, can it, Rodge?"

On another occasion, Norman joked: "You'll have to hurry up and finish today, you were desperately close to getting to the tip on time yesterday."

Ms Bartrup-Jones also suffered the sharp tongue of Norman, who routinely greeted her as "Fatso", the papers said.

As well as turning his television up full-blast, Norman would also regularly tap on the couple's windows and wave at them.

They attended court today to hear the interim Asbo imposed until June 10, when there will be another hearing to decide whether a full order should be granted.

Outside court today, Mr Papp-Burnett said: "It's been an invasion of our privacy. We have felt as though we have had no privacy in our garden.

"The first time I can remember was last year when he (Norman) had a loud football match on television at about 7.50pm on a Friday evening. I went round to ask if he would mind turning it down and he just said 'Sorry Robert, I am not going to turn it down, it's a very important match'.

"The next time I saw him he said he wanted to speak to me about the state of my garden and that he was going to call the council and get them on to the state of my garden.

"That took me by surprise because until that point we had got on quite well."

In court Norman, dressed in a blue woollen sweater, blue checked shirt, tie and trousers, spoke only to confirm his name, address and age.

Paul Carlin, his solicitor, said: "I don't think it is appropriate to ask whether he admits the complaints. I would like to take instructions before I make any further comments on that."

Sharon Gibbons, prosecuting, said there was no objection to the interim order.

She said: "The application before you (the magistrates) today is for an interim Asbo.

"The first part is acting in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause, a nuisance, harassment or distress to Robert Papp-Burnett or Patricia Bartrup-Jones or acting in a way that incites or encourages others to do so.

"The defendant is also prohibited from verbally or physically abusing Robert Papp-Burnett or Patricia Bartrup-Jones."

The suburb of Berry Hill is smart. In Woodland Drive, where the couple live in a semi-detached house next to Norman, the front gardens are well manicured and the cars are obviously washed and kept in good order.

A few tree-lined streets down are large houses and small mansions. Parked in the driveways outside are Mercedes and BMWs. These streets would be fit for Premiership footballers, except there aren't any in Mansfield.

Today is the first time anyone from the area has been handed an Asbo of any sort as they are usually reserved for drunks in the town, problem families on the council estates and hoodie youths who stand on street corners.

In an email informing local media about today's hearing, the council's spokesman said: "The subject is pensioner John Robert Norman (61) of Woodland Drive, Mansfield.

"This is the oldest person the council has ever sought an Asbo against. He lives in the Berry Hill area (for those that don't know it, it is our wealthiest area - Mansfield's answer to Beverly Hills!)."