Kenley pensioner given suspended sentence over week killer assault and eight month harassment

Lorraine Crowley, 54, had suffered abuse, been threatened and even had weed killer sprayed in her face by neighbour Joan Nisbet, 70, of Godstone Road, Kenley.

Mrs Crowley who lives with husband Paul, 57, said: "She is evil. The past year has been hell. She terrorised the whole neighbourhood, insulting the children and playing music so loud you could hear it all down the road.

"It got so bad my husband tried to take his life, he'd had enough and just didn't think it would ever stop."

Appearing at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 27, Nisbet, who had previously pleaded guilty to common assault and harassment over a eight month period, was given a 26-week jail sentence and a 12-week jail sentence, both suspended for a year, to run concurrently.

She was ordered to attend counselling over an alcohol problem and to have victim awareness sessions as part of a supervision order and is not to contact the Crowley family, any of their visitors or play loud music between 11pm and 7am.

Defending, Laura Cooper said Nisbet accepted her part but she was not solely responsible for the dispute.

She said: "She accepts she can be impulsive and aggressive, but at times she has been shouted back at."

Mrs Crowley denied this.

She said: "This all started because I wouldn't take her keys when she went away because of her behaviour in the neighbourhood. Shortly after we were arguing and I dropped the lawn mower and cut off two of my toes. Later she sent texts laughing."

The weed killer assault left her with a blistered face for a week and injured hands for six weeks.

Sentencing, chairman of the bench Ian McNeil warned a breach of her order would land her in jail.

He said: "Be in no doubt it will result in an immediate custodial sentence."

Mrs Crowley, who thanked Mr McNeil after the sentence, said: "It won't stop here she'll be back in front of them again in no time."