Elderly woman put 'peekaboo' sign in her window to stop Spalford neighbour from photographing her home
An elderly woman put a cardboard sign reading 'peekaboo' in her window to deter her neighbour from taking photos of her home.
Stephen Bell, 77, was caught on CCTV taking pictures and videos of a neighbour's home and was said to have harassed her in what was an ongoing dispute lasting nearly 20 years.
Having been charged with harassment, however, solicitors decided the charge should be dismissed and an indefinite restraining order be imposed — something that rarely happens.
Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard Mr Bell, of Eagle Road, Spalford, was complained of up until two weeks before his trial despite repeated warnings from police who wanted to resolve the matter out of court.
The woman claimed Mr Bell had repeatedly loitered on her driveway to take photos and recordings, shouted at her dogs, moved her walking aid, knocked on her door repeatedly, threw garden waste over the fence and even climbed onto his home extension to get a better view of her garden.
Neill Fawcett, prosecuting, said: "It's quite clear there have been issues over a number of years.
"Between May 2019 and November 2021 she made nine separate statements to the police, making various complaints about the conduct of Mr Bell — mostly looking through her windows, pausing when her back door is open.
"Constantly he has been referred to as taking photographs, she says often she wasn't sure if he was taking photos of her, but certainly her property."
The court heard police found numerous photos of her home on Mr Bell's photo gallery, and had seen CCTV of Bell moving her walking aid on 28 separate occasions.
Mr Fawcett added: "Photos on his device clearly show him at the rear windows in the patio area, taking photos through the window. We know that because the complainant has put a piece of cardboard up saying 'peekaboo'.
"Mr Bell has often given explanation to police a need to examine a rear wall by his extension and the deeds allow the defendant to go onto that patio area.
"Because she had a padlock put on the gate, he couldn't get in, so he would climb on the fence and take photos — but a lot of the photos don't show that wall, just her property.
"He used the stepladders to get into the complainant's patio and takes pictures and looks elsewhere."
The defence solicitor said Mr Bell was an acknowledged historian who was retired and living on his own in an isolated area.
"Part of his work, he is a keen photographer and has over 50,000 slides he has taken and hopes to put them in digital format to have them displayed in galleries," she said.
"He has provided me with a number of references who have known him for a long time, his neighbours [before the complainant moved in] who speak highly and fondly of him.
"We have to acknowledge, however, the community protection notices and warning letter were served, along with police interviews — but, to be fair to Mr Bell, the photos are of the house, not of the complainant.
"I think he has become quite focused on the fact that those were his rights of way and he should be able to move freely but everyone involved just wants this to come to an end, and the restraining order will ensure there is no contact.
"Hopefully he can focus on other parts of his life."
The presiding magistrate warned Mr Bell he could be sent to prison if he is found to have breached the order.
