NUISANCE neighbour Keith Quartermain has been spared jail after finally moving house.
The 67-year-old, pictured, was handed a six-month sentence suspended for two years yesterday at Oxford Crown Court for two breaches of a restraining order.
It follows an 18-year harassment campaign against his neighbours David Quick and Catherine Fillier, which a judge called a “very long saga” that he hoped was now over.
Tony McGeorge, defending, told the court that Quatermain has moved from Austin Place, Abingdon, to an undisclosed address in Witney – claiming he had sold his house for £30,000 less than market value.
Since 1994 Quartermain has repeatedly appeared in court for harassing his neighbours with nuisance phone calls, a ‘laughing machine’ and abusive signs.
His most recent restraining order was set in February 2009, barring him from making noises outside his home between 10pm and 7am.
After a trial Quartermain was found guilty of two breaches in November 2011, in which he called one neighbour “ugly” and another “a coward”.
But the sentence was deferred by Judge Gordon Risius to allow him a chance to sell his house.
After receiving evidence of the sale, Judge Risius said: “It would be wise not to go back to Austin Place and desirable that you get on well with your new neighbours so the current unhappiness never reoccurs.”
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