Pensioner given DIY ban after unwanted work next door

Police called out 20 times after accused continually pestered his neighbours

A pensioner who harassed a couple for five years has been banned from carrying out DIY on their property.

The extraordinary ruling came after Michael Waters pestered Robert and Lindsay Robertson at their home in Keltybridge, Kinross-shire, for more than five years.

His actions included entering their property to paint his garage and carrying out unwanted work on the couple’s property.

Police were called out up to 20 times as Waters continually entered his neighbours’ property uninvited and stood on his garage roof taking photographs.

After a trial at Perth Sheriff Court, he was found guilty of engaging in a course of conduct between August 4 2011 and November 1 2016 which caused fear or alarm to Mr and Mrs Robertson.

Waters, of Keltybridge, was also found guilty of causing Patricia Renwick, 65, fear or alarm by acting aggressively on various occasions from September 2015 to September 2016.

The 70-year-old was made the subject of a non-harassment order for a period of 18 months.

Sheriff Derek Reekie told him the move was necessary to protect Mr and Mrs Robertson.

Waters is banned from entering or attempting to enter any property owned or occupied by the couple.

He is also barred from carrying out any work on any joint property without the prior consent of Mr and Mrs Robertson.

Sheriff Reekie also fined Waters a total of £450.

During Waters’ trial Mrs Robertson told how she felt she had been “under siege” and was taken to hospital because of the stress caused by her neighbour’s behaviour.

The trial was told Waters had moved bins and flower pots and also painted a wall purple, without permission.

He repeatedly stared at the couple and into their property and also took photographs of it.

He repeatedly entered their garden without permission, including on an occasion to paint the wall of his garage and to carry out work on the Robertson’s property.

He shouted and swore at them and blocked access to their property.

The court was told yesterday Mrs Renwick had put her house up for sale as she was desperate to move away from Waters.

Michael Waters carried out unwanted work on neighbours’ property and photographed them.

Waters was found guilty after a trial at Perth Sheriff Court, pictured, was told of how a neighbour had to be taken to hospital because of the stress of his actions.