Neighbour threatened to burn children

 A “neighbour from hell” threatened to set fire to the two children next door, a court heard.

In a campaign of harassment, Anthony Duffy threatened to slit his neighbour’s throat, slammed doors, made bizarre rants on his phone, played loud music and promised to burn the family’s house down, Teesside Crown Court heard.

It climaxed with Duffy gesturing to the youngsters, aged seven and 13, when he said: “I’m going to set you on fire.”

Duffy’s actions drove his neighbours to sell their home on Billingham Road, Norton, Stockton-on-tees.

Sentencing was adjourned until Friday.