A PENSIONER was caught on CCTV fishing dirty nappies out of his neighbours bin, a court heard.
Shocking footage showed Ernest O’Neill harassing a single mum-of-one by rifling through her rubbish and peering into her windows.
CavendishO’Neill was captured rooting through his neighbour’s bin[/caption]
CavendishThe pensioner admitted harassing the single mum-of-one[/caption]
CavendishOne clip showed O’Neill, from Warrington, lifting the lid of the bin to get the waste[/caption]
The 66-year-old was captured removing nappies and sanitary towels, as well as making gestures at the camera as he walked past the house.
One clip showed O’Neill, from Warrington, lifting the lid of the bin, rooting through the rubbish and taking out bags worth of waste.
Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard the pensioner’s campaign of harassment took place between last October and April this year.
His victim, a young mum with a six-month-old baby, told how she has been “suffering nightmares” as a result of the bizarre behaviour.
In a statement, the 22-year-old explained: “As a result of this crime I became increasingly anxious. It has made my mental health worse.
“I am scared to leave the property as he only lives three doors away. I feel I have no right to privacy given that he is always watching.
“I do not believe that I should be scared of this male – but his actions have caused this.
“I feel I could not leave my house without being watched. I am suffering nightmares.
“This has clearly had a negative impact on my life.”
O’Neill claimed he was being a “good neighbour” and suggested to cops that the bin was “overflowing”.
But the court heard, on one particular occasion, the former care worker had been forced to run to a nearby bus stop to avoid him.
She admitted she was worried O’Neill would attack her, adding: “At night I check the doors to make sure they are locked.
“I walk around the house numerous times to check the windows are closed. It has affected my day to day life.
“I am a 22-year-old who is currently living alone. Moving to this property has not kept me completely safe.
“I feel intimidated given that he is a neighbour and a male stronger than me. If he was to attack me I do not feel I could defend myself.
CCTV footage shows O’Neill waving to the camera, smiling and sticking his tongue out on separate occasions.
Elizabeth Browne, prosecuting, told the court: “The defendant interfered with bins at her home address, specifically removing female hygiene products and nappies.
“CCTV captures the defendant walking past her property on a number of occasions, waving at the camera and making gestures.
“This includes sticking his tongue out and approaching the window without reason.
“The same behaviour took place after being warned by the police.
“The incident caused distress and she feels that she cannot leave her property through fear of the defendant.”
In mitigation, O’Neill’s lawyer Jonathan Condor told the court that his client “generally” gets on with his neighbours.
He admitted the circumstances were “unusual”, but insisted O’Neill had “learnt his lesson”.
Mr Condor said: “The defendant has lived at the same address for the best part of 30 years.
CavendishO’Neill’s lawyer Jonathan Condor told the court that his client ‘generally’ gets on with his neighbours[/caption]
CavendishO’Neill admitted harassment and was sentenced to a 12-month community order[/caption]
CavendishO’Neill has been banned from approaching his victim for two years[/caption]
“He is very settled in the neighbourhood and generally gets on with them very well.
“He did tell me that he is very sorry for his behaviour. He did not fully appreciate the seriousness of what he was doing.
”He is not a gentleman in the habit of causing problems to people of this kind. He has learnt his lesson.”
O’Neill admitted harassment and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
A restraining order was also put in place, banning him from approaching his victim for two years.
Sentencing him last week, JP Jeffrey Dodd said: “The probation service is going to do some work with you.
“It will support the way you think about things and how to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable.”
O’Neill was fined £120 and ordered to pay £199 in costs and victim surcharge.
CavendishHis victim, a young mum with a six-month-old baby, told how she had been ‘suffering nightmares’ as a result of his bizarre behaviour[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
