This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/6560537.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| 'Neighbour from hell' OAP jailed | 'Neighbour from hell' OAP jailed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An 81-year-old woman has been jailed for six months for making her neighbours' lives "absolute hell". | An 81-year-old woman has been jailed for six months for making her neighbours' lives "absolute hell". |
| Dorothy Evans, from Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, had been convicted of harassment and six breaches of an Asbo. | Dorothy Evans, from Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, had been convicted of harassment and six breaches of an Asbo. |
| Judge Roderick Denyer QC said he took into account her age but said she had made her neighbours' lives "a misery". | Judge Roderick Denyer QC said he took into account her age but said she had made her neighbours' lives "a misery". |
| She had been threatened with arrest after failing to appear in court for sentence on Monday, claiming she was unwell and in hospital having tests. | She had been threatened with arrest after failing to appear in court for sentence on Monday, claiming she was unwell and in hospital having tests. |
| The judge said: "These offences all involve neighbours of yours. It's abundantly clear you will not change." | |
| He told Evans he accepted there was a "good and positive side" to her nature. | |
| But he added: "It seems to me, despite your age anddespite your infirmities, you have deliberately, for a period going on for 10 years, made life a misery for your neighbours." | |
| The consequences of your behaviour must be brought home to you Judge Roderick Denyer QC | The consequences of your behaviour must be brought home to you Judge Roderick Denyer QC |
| He told Evans her sentence would have been "much longer if you had been younger". | He told Evans her sentence would have been "much longer if you had been younger". |
| Also, the existing Asbo order will remain in place. | Also, the existing Asbo order will remain in place. |
| He said that Evans' neighbours Angela and Roberto Casa were "eminently decent and reasonable people". | He said that Evans' neighbours Angela and Roberto Casa were "eminently decent and reasonable people". |
| "You made their lives a misery, as was apparent both at the trial and by the witness impact statements". | "You made their lives a misery, as was apparent both at the trial and by the witness impact statements". |
| The judge, who told her she would serve a minimum of three months in jail, also criticised her for failing to cooperate with the probation service. | The judge, who told her she would serve a minimum of three months in jail, also criticised her for failing to cooperate with the probation service. |
| "In my view, the consequences of your behaviour must be brought home to you." | "In my view, the consequences of your behaviour must be brought home to you." |
| Her daughter broke down and sobbed when the sentence was passed. | Her daughter broke down and sobbed when the sentence was passed. |
| 'Frightening experience' | 'Frightening experience' |
| David Webster, defending, asked for her not to be sent to prison, saying she had a "fear" of going to jail. | David Webster, defending, asked for her not to be sent to prison, saying she had a "fear" of going to jail. |
| "There is no doubt that this is a woman that stands in terror of a prison sentence," he said. | "There is no doubt that this is a woman that stands in terror of a prison sentence," he said. |
| Mr Webster said that a suspended sentence she was given in 2001 was the only thing she had not breached and had been a "good deterrent". | Mr Webster said that a suspended sentence she was given in 2001 was the only thing she had not breached and had been a "good deterrent". |
| "Send her to prison and the deterrent effect of that will rapidly evaporate," he said. | "Send her to prison and the deterrent effect of that will rapidly evaporate," he said. |
| He also claimed that she was capable of being a good neighbour. | He also claimed that she was capable of being a good neighbour. |
| Mrs Casa said the pensioner made her life 'absolute hell' | Mrs Casa said the pensioner made her life 'absolute hell' |
| "This is a lady who does have another side . There are those who have known her for a long time who are prepared to speak well of her. | "This is a lady who does have another side . There are those who have known her for a long time who are prepared to speak well of her. |
| He added that she had become "obsessional" about the dispute with the Casas. | He added that she had become "obsessional" about the dispute with the Casas. |
| In February, the trial heard how Evans had made her neighbours' lives "absolute hell". | In February, the trial heard how Evans had made her neighbours' lives "absolute hell". |
| She was convicted of offences against her next-door neighbours, the Casas, in Park Crescent between January and June 2006. | She was convicted of offences against her next-door neighbours, the Casas, in Park Crescent between January and June 2006. |
| The jury heard how Evans had told the couple's 13-year-old daughter she was a witch and would cast a spell on her family and kill her pet dog. | The jury heard how Evans had told the couple's 13-year-old daughter she was a witch and would cast a spell on her family and kill her pet dog. |
| Angela Casa described several neighbourly disputes, including rows over parking and flooding problems. | Angela Casa described several neighbourly disputes, including rows over parking and flooding problems. |
| She claimed the pensioner called her a prostitute and that she tried to run her off the road on several occasions and had hit her with a walking stick. | She claimed the pensioner called her a prostitute and that she tried to run her off the road on several occasions and had hit her with a walking stick. |