A HEREFORDSHIRE pensioner "terrified" her neighbour by peering in her windows, making false police reports, knocking on her door and goading her dog.
Doreen Burns, from Lea, near Ross-on-Wye, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment without violence when she appeared at Hereford Magistrates' Court this week.
She had harassed her neighbour for almost two months, beginning on June 16 when she called police and told them she heard an argument at her neighbour's home.
The police arrived and found the incident was a waste of their time. After they left, Burns went to the house herself and persistently knocked on the door and peered through the windows.
The 68-year-old was issued with an acceptable behaviour contract by the housing association for her home in Saunders Close, which she signed.
But her behaviour didn't stop there, and she returned to the neighbour's home to "goad" her dog. When she was asked to leave the dog alone, she said "no chance" and threatened to call the RSPCA.
Burns was issued with a warning to stop her behaviour, but once again harassed her neighbour by posting a letter through the door reading "Police are on the way to speak to you".
In an interview with police, Burns admitted her behaviour could have caused distress and cited alcohol problems. She said she was trying to address her alcoholism with Turning Point.
In a victim statement, the neighbour said: "I am terrified of Doreen. Every time I hear doors or gates I'm scared it's going to be her."
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Burns was previously convicted of wasting police time in February last year, when she knowingly made a false police report from Ross-on-Wye.
In mitigation, defence solicitor Chris Read said Burns' relationship with her neighbour was "initially very amicable" but that Burns' "behaviour had been affected massively by alcoholism".
Magistrates gave Burns a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £50 to the neighbour, who has since moved away from Lea. Burns must also pay a £26 victim surcharge and £50 in costs.
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