Noise costs man £3,000

Luke Nash, of Chichester Road, has been convicted of breaching a noise abatement order which banned him from disturbing his neighbours.

The 20-year-old failed to attend a hearing at Chichester Magistrates' Court last Thursdaybut the case was heard in his absence.

He was found guilty of one charge of breaching a noise abatement order. Magistrates fined him 1,000 and ordered him to pay Arun District Council's costs of 2,011.

Mr Nash was served with the order last February following complaints about amplified music being played in his home.

Recording equipment installed by Arun's environmental health officers in nearby properties confirmed the levels of noise met the legal definition of a statutory nuisance.

John Green, Arun's principal environmental health officer, said: 'I am delighted that magistrates supported our efforts to tackle this problem. I hope this prosecution serves as a warning to others that we will take a hard line with people who cause misery for others with excessive noise.'

Environment boss, Cllr Paul Wotherspoon, added: 'This is a great result.'