A pensioner known as her neighbour a “dy*e” and a “b****” after she accused the lady’s dogs of consuming her cat’s meals, a court docket heard.
Brighton Magistrates Court heard that Monia Woods, 77, had been a “neighbour from hell” ever since she first moved to Sycamore Close, East Sussex, 9 years in the past.
Jane Merrington, who lived subsequent door to Woods, rang 999 when she couldn’t take it anymore.
Calling the police, she stated: “She’s calling me all sorts, accusing my dogs of eating her food. My dogs are indoors, they haven’t been anywhere.
A Brighton Magistrates Court heard the row between the neighbours
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“I have had an Asbo on this woman from the police. I have had enough, I’m not taking any more of this.
“She’s saying she’s going to put me all over Facebook. She’s not talking to me like that. She gets away with it because she’s 70. This is what you are afraid of, arresting this woman.
“It’s been five years. She’s the most horrible lady. It’s not just me – she picks on a neighbour down the road. She’s a neighbour from hell.”
Merrington additionally informed the court docket that Woods had accused her dogs of consuming her cat’s meals.
She added that Woods had additionally been homophobic in the direction of her, shouting: “That dy*e is a b****.”
The court docket was proven video footage from Merrington’s doorbell digicam, the place the 77-year-old could be heard shouting at her neighbour within the background.
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When questioned by the defence how she might make sure that it was Woods insulting her, as there’s a massive six-foot fence between the properties, Merrington stated that she was sure it was the 77-year-old resulting from her “distinctive voice”.
She additionally added that she had seen Woods walking down the communal path moments earlier than.
Woods initially denied the claims, stating that she was not at home when the video was recorded. She supplied a receipt from Tesco timestamped at 12.48pm on February 7, 2023, as proof.
However, she did admit that quickly afterwards, she returned home and was helped by a taxi driver who unloaded her searching for her, which Merrington had informed the court docket she noticed.
After later being proven the doorbell video by police, Woods conceded that she had actually yelled at her neighbour however insisted that the phrase “dy*e” had not left her lips.
Today, when requested if it had been her shouting, she modified her stance as soon as extra: “Not at all. I would go more than that but at the present time I will say she was mistaken.
Woods’ sister checked the CCTV footage and said she could not see her yelling
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“I didn’t see her at all that day. Not any day. I have to close the doors. I have been warned by the police keep out of her way, go indoors, which I do.”
She alleged that the video had been edited by Merrington’s good friend.
Her sister, who stated she was conscious of the feud between the pair, informed the court docket that she checked Woods’ CCTV footage and couldn’t hear any shouting.
Tim Concannon, prosecution, stated: “The footage has not been produced and they are connected people.”
Mark Charnley, defence, who stated Woods was of fine character, stated: “There’s no love lost between these parties whatsoever. It’s difficult to bore down to find the truth.”
Woods was later convicted of threatening behaviour, fined £156 and ordered to pay a sufferer surcharge of £62 and prices of £500, which she can pay again in installments of £5 per week.
Chair of the bench Joanna Brown informed Woods: “We heard that you gave an inconsistent account to the police officer. This undermined your credibility. For that reason we have found you guilty of this offence.”
