SLEEPLESS David Upward today told how he was driven from his flat above an Ipswich lap dancing pub by the ear-splitting music below.As the beat of tunes such as rap classic Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio reverberated through his floorboards, Mr Upward said his only wish was for staff at the Giles Tavern to turn the music down.

SLEEPLESS David Upward today told how he was driven from his flat above an Ipswich lap dancing pub by the ear-splitting music below.

As the beat of tunes such as rap classic Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio reverberated through his floorboards, Mr Upward said his only wish was for staff at the Giles Tavern to turn the music down.

For two-and-a-half-years he endured the torture of nights full of interrupted sleep until he could stand it no longer.

Now, as reported in yesterday's Star Giles Tavern landlady, Julie Denny, must pay a £6,000 after being found guilty of seven charges of contravening noise abatement notices served by Ipswich Borough Council.

Mr Upward said: "This case has always been about the noise and all I ever wanted was for them to turn the music down. In the two and a half years I have lived in that flat there have been several people living in the two flats either side. They all got fed up and moved out quickly.

"I eventually had enough and this whole episode has saddened me into leaving my home and job."

Mr Upward was even taken to the police station after allegations he was stalking the manager of the pub.

He has now not only left the flat and the town but has moved out of the country to Oman, in the Middle East.

When he bought the flat above the pub, in Princes Street, in November 2002 he said he had expected a little noise from passing revellers in the town centre.

But in the run up to Christmas that year he said the noise from the pub became unbearable.

He said: "One night they had a visiting DJ playing drum and bass. It was so loud that my windows and doors on my cupboards were vibrating. I also have some guitars and the strings were humming from the vibrations.

"I went downstairs and asked the assistant manager to turn the music down.

"He listened to me and was polite but the music was not turned down."

As the incidents became more regular Mr Upward, who worked as the deputy manager at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre in Stowmarket, contacted the environmental health and was told to keep a list of everything that happened.

To date he has recorded more than 30 nights where the music was unbearable.

The council wrote to the pub and told them they were in breach of noise restrictions – which finally lead to Ms Denney being taken to court.

Just before Christmas last year, before the case went to court, Mr Upward had a letter pushed through his front door.

It was from the police asking him to contact them. When he did they asked him to come in and help them with their enquiries.

He said: "When I went in I was informed Julie had accused me of stalking her and sending racially inappropriate letters to her.

"There are no other words to describe this experience other than to say I was really frightened.

"I am a law abiding citizen, have done lots of things for charity and had a job that required me to work with the public – I am not a racist or a stalker.

"Having to go to a police station and have my finger prints taken and be asked questions about these incidents frightened me beyond belief. I was shaking with worry when I got home and had to take a day off work because I was so stressed."

Ipswich police did not arrest Mr Upward and they are no longer investigating the incidents.