A nightmare neighbour has been evicted after making residents’ lives a misery by constantly playing LILY ALLEN – but has won support from the pop star herself.
Pop-loving Neil Wright, 47, admitted he would blast out the singer’s greatest hits all day and night.
Wright has now been evicted from his flat in Plymouth, Devon, over noise issues earlier this month.
On Tuesday he was hit with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) – banning him from playing his favourite tunes – at Plymouth Magistrates Court.
The court was told his neighbours were driven mad by the noise – but Lily herself has re-tweeted a link about his case adding the hashtag #Gang.
Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a noise abatement notice after he was caught blaring Lily Allen tracks along with the soundtrack to War of the Worlds at a volume deemed “excessive” and “intrusive” by Environment Protection officers.
He was subsequently fined £120 for each offence, ordered to pay £500 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.
His music stereo, speakers, cassette player and docking station, which were seized previously, were also ordered to be destroyed.
His television and CD collection, including all the albums by Lily Allen, were exempt from the forfeiture order.
Andrea Gilbert, prosecuting on behalf of Plymouth City Council, said officers had visited Mr Wright on three occasions, on November 13, 14 and 16, after complaints relating to noise were received by disgruntled neighbours.
She said: “Despite Plymouth City Council’s efforts and the seizure of his items, Mr Wright has refused to curb his anti-social behaviour and that’s why we’ve asked for a CBO because we’re running out of ideas.
“Officers feel intimidated by his behaviour and we’re getting reports of disturbances at other properties but it is hoped a CBO would control his behaviour wherever he is in our city.”
Mr Wright was also accused of swearing at neighbours and throwing litter from his flat window.
His solicitor, Bill Lahive, referred to the 47-year-old as “not the best neighbour in the world”.
He highlighted Mr Wright’s mental health issues and said he suffered from alcohol addiction.
Speaking after the case, Mr Wright admitted he is a Lily Allen fan but said he felt the music ban and his flat eviction were unfair.
He said: “I was probably playing Lily Allen. I quite like her, I’m a bit of a fan. I have quite a few of her albums at home.
“I do think it’s all a bit unfair. They took away my TV, my radio and even my cassette player – even though I don’t own any cassettes.
“I went back to get my stuff the other day and someone rang the police. I didn’t know any of this was going to end up in court.
“I just want to be able to go back and grab my things. I was only able to grab three bags of clothes and that’s it. I didn’t even get a chance to turn the heating off.”
The CBO bans Mr Wright from causing or allowing to be caused any noise nuisances to the extent that it will be audible outside of any premises at which he resides either temporarily or permanently.
The order will be valid for two years.
