A NOISY neighbour is today counting the cost of her behaviour after she was fined more than �1,600 for playing loud music at her Ipswich home.
A NOISY neighbour is today counting the cost of her behaviour after she was fined more than �1,600 for playing loud music at her Ipswich home.
Sherilee Hood failed to attend a hearing into her case at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court but was found guilty of two counts of failing to comply with a noise abatement notice in her absence.
The court heard how neighbours had complained to Ipswich Borough Council after loud music was heard coming from the 38-year-old's Surrey Road home on February 11.
Despite a letter being sent by the council's Environmental Protection Services team, the problem persisted and a visit was made by officers who considered the level of the volume of the music constituted a statutory nuisance.
A noise abatement notice was served on Hood but in April further complaints were received. A second visit was made by officers and a decision to prosecute over her apparent failure to comply was taken.
A third complaint was later received in June.
Despite being summonsed to attend court, Hood failed to turn up, nor was she represented during Monday's hearing, and the matter was proved in her absence.
The bench fined her a total of �1,000 and ordered her to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs in the sum of �590.42 along with a �15 victim surcharge.
Have you been affected by a noisy neighbour? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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