Neighbour from hell left Newcastle couple living in fear in their home of 30 years
Andrew Fleming, who identifies as Susan Hope, has been jailed for harassing the couple in the Andrew Fleming, who identifies as Susan Hope, jailed for harassment.
A neighbour from hell left a couple living in fear in their home of more than 30 years.
The victims have lived in their upstairs flat in Newcastle for around 30 years without issue until the Andrew Fleming, who, a court heard, now identifies as Susan Hope, moved in in February last year. The woman helped her new neighbour initially, letting them charge a phone and making them a cup of tea when their electricity was off.
However Rachel Glover, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "This changed when the defendant began knocking on their door at all hours asking for her phone to be charged and for phone calls to be made on her behalf. (The woman) said she tried to be a good neighbour but it got too much and she began to say no and asked her to stop knocking on her door.
"The defendant became aggressive and shouted in her face, saying 'I will remember this'. The defendant was away from home between February and June, when she returned.
Within two days, on June 15, the defendant started knocking and banging on the neighbours' door again, saying they were locked out. The woman said she didn't want anything more to do with her.
On June 23, there was more banging on the door amid claims of lost keys. On June 29, the woman went to a fish and chip shop and noticed the defendant standing across the road, staring at her. Miss Glover said: "She found her very intimidating. She was terrified and returned home shaking."
On July 1, the woman was in her flat when she heard shouting from the defendant in her flat around 9am and it lasted most of the morning. At lunchtime as she got in her car she heard the defendant shouting abuse and threats to kill her and to "punch her face in".
Miss Glover said: "She could see the defendant standing at her front window with the window open, shouting at her. (The victim) was frightened, crying and shaking and her husband called the police."
Fleming/Hope, 51, of Walpole Street, Walkergate, Newcastle, was arrested and assaulted a police officer at the police station but was then released on bail with conditions not to contact the victims.
But on July 12, the defendant knocked on their door again and was told to leave. There was further knocking on the door on July 24 and 27 and on July 29 the neighbours were met with verbal abuse.
The husband had to drive his wife around until she calmed down and they then fitted a ring doorbell, which captured further banging and angry shouting by the defendant on August 3. The woman made a victim impact statement and Miss Glover said: "She is absolutely terrified of the defendant. It's causing her distress all the time. She's terrified of what they are capable of doing.
"It frightens her. She's lived there more than 30 years with no issues but no longer feels safe and doesn't want to live there anymore." Referring to a victim impact statement by the man, Miss Glover said: "It has made him feel anxious in his own home. He's worried for his wife because of the threats made towards her.
"He has taken time off work. His wife doesn't like to be in the address on her own and he is constantly worried about what will happen."
Fleming/Hope, who failed to attend court for the sentencing hearing, pleaded guilty to harassment putting a person in fear of violence and assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for 41 weeks and given a restraining order not to contact the victims. Shada Mellor, defending, said the defendant has served the equivalent of a 14 month prison sentence on on remand and was previously detained under the Mental Health Act. The court heard they have autism and bipolar.
Link to article: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/neighbour-hell-left-newcastle-couple-28804301
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