Noisy neighbour guilty of harassment for ‘using three leaf blowers and whistling Rolf Harris song’

Retired panel-beater Micheal Hall, 67, ‘destroyed the peace’ of the ‘tranquil’ Cheshire street with his ‘deliberate and vindictive’ campaign of noise, magistrates were told

A noisy neighbour infuriated residents on a quiet cul-de-sac by using three leaf blowers at once, playing his radio on full blast and by whistling a Rolf Harris tune through his hedge, a court heard.

Retired panel-beater Michael Hall ‘destroyed the peace’ of his ‘tranquil’ Cheshire street with his ‘deliberate and vindictive’ campaign of noise, magistrates were told.

The 67-year-old would use power tools and gardening equipment at anti-social hours and would play his radio in his garden throughout the day, neighbours claimed.

Mr Hall, nicknamed ‘Michael the Moron’ by frustrated neighbours, would also whistle Rolf Harris’ song ‘Two Little Boys’ through his garden hedge, one resident claimed.

The situation became so bad that one of Mr Hall’s neighbours decided to sell their house on the cheap to get away, while another moved out of their home for six months’ respite, the court heard.

Mr Hall was later arrested for breaching a restraining order – imposed following previous noise complaints against him for using power tools during anti-social hours.

And he has now been found guilty of harassment and breaching his previous restraining order, after two of his long-suffering neighbours gave evidence against him.  

Previously Mr Hall, who lives with his 73-year old wife Pamela in Handforth, near Wilmslow, Cheshire, had enraged residents by routinely waking them up as early as 4am.  

Stockport Magistrates’ Court heard residents would be awoken by Mr Hall starting-up his noisy camper van or by switching on his chainsaw and angle grinder to do some early morning gardening or DIY.

Mr Hall would use power tools and gardening equipment (pictured: Mr Hall using a leaf blower in his garden) at anti-social hours and would listen to the radio in his garden throughout the day, neighbours claimed

Mr Hall would use power tools and gardening equipment (pictured: Mr Hall using a leaf blower in his garden) at anti-social hours and would listen to the radio in his garden throughout the day, neighbours claimed

Mr Hall for was later arrested (pictured) for breaching a restraining order - imposed following previous noise complaints against him for using power tools during anti-social hours

Mr Hall for was later arrested (pictured) for breaching a restraining order – imposed following previous noise complaints against him for using power tools during anti-social hours

He also erected a battery of CCTV surveillance cameras above a wrought iron gate at his £250,000 property so he could film neighbours coming and going in the street outside.

The latest incidents occurred between May and July last year, just 18 months after Hall had been issued with a two-year restraining order banning him from using power tools and gardening equipment during unsocial hours.

Father-of-two Timothy Royle, 54, who moved into a neighbouring home on the cul-de-sac in 2016 told the hearing: ‘I call him “Michael The Moron” – a nickname I created for my young children as otherwise it would be a lot worse.

‘Michael and I do not speak as there is a lot of conflict from him towards me and all the other neighbours and this has been going on for 15-20 years.

Previously the retired panel beater who lives with his 73-year old wife Pamela (pictured together) in Handforth, near Wilmslow, Cheshire, had enraged residents by routinely waking them up as early as 4am

Previously the retired panel beater who lives with his 73-year old wife Pamela (pictured together) in Handforth, near Wilmslow, Cheshire, had enraged residents by routinely waking them up as early as 4am

‘When I bought the property, it was hugely undervalued on the market due to the previous vendor having had issues with the defendant.

‘He had driven all the previous people out but I bought the property with the viewing of making it my own.

‘I thought I could win him over and not have a problem with him but when I moved in he started to intimidate me which he had done to previous neighbours for years.’

Mr Royle, a company managing director said his neighbour would make ‘constant noise’ and use ‘three leaf blowers at once’ and by playing his radio ‘from 7am through to 8pm’.  

‘What he does is deliberate and relentless,’ Mr Royle said. 

He said: ‘There were no leaves on the ground yet he would have three leaf blowers going at once and he would have them plugged in next to my house. 

‘It is incredibly frustrating. He is trying to destroy the peace of the cul-de-sac. 

‘His new one is whistling ‘Two Little Boys’ by Rolf Harris through the hedge.

‘It is increasingly frustrating because you would think someone of his age would grow up and get on with his life instead of constantly winding me up.’

Mr Royle said the noise had affected his relationship with his partner, who he said had moved out for six months due to the noise.

‘It was only when the restraining order came in that she came back but it has now started again.

‘What he does is all calculated and there is no reason for it. It is thuggery, nothing else,’ he added.

Another neighbour Peter Dean said: ‘I have lived at my address for 15 years and have spoken to Michael Hall just once in four years as I don’t want any earache of any description.

Fed-up neighbours Peter Dean (left) and Timothy Royle (right) decided to give evidence against him

Fed-up neighbours Peter Dean (left) and Timothy Royle (right) decided to give evidence against him

Neighbours claimed that Mr Hall would use three leaf blowers at one time in a 'campaign' of noise against them

Neighbours claimed that Mr Hall would use three leaf blowers at one time in a ‘campaign’ of noise against them

Michael Hall put signs outside his house with information on deeds, rights of access and property law

Michael Hall put signs outside his house with information on deeds, rights of access and property law

‘It is those three leaf blowers going at the same time. 

‘Sometimes, he would have one in his hand and he would leave the other two still going.’

Hall who denied wrongdoing claimed he ‘only’ had two leaf blowers.

He said he used them to help clear the path of pebbles for his wife, who he was worried would stumble on them.  

Mr Hall said: ‘Years ago, I had more than one leaf blower blowing at one time, but this was before Mr Royle moved in.

‘It was also not my radio playing. It was coming from the building next to me and and I was not whistling.

‘I would never breach my order. I was aware of what would happen if I was convicted again.’

But chairman of the magistrate Jane Shales said: ‘We found Mr Royle’s evidence to be clear and concise and he was a credible witness, as was Mr Dean.

‘Mr Hall meanwhile was inconsistent and not credible.’

Hall was granted conditional bail pending sentencing in May.