Carol Cowden

A Shropshire woman harassed a Shrewsbury councillor by bombarding her with phone calls, a court heard.

Carol Cowden, who was found guilty of harassing Councillor Joyce Allaway and harassing a neighbour, was ordered yesterday to do 140 hours unpaid work.

Cowden, 44, of Sundorne Avenue, Shrewsbury, was also issued with two-year restraining orders to stop her having any contact or communicating with Councillor Allaway, who represents the Sundorne ward, or with her neighbour Terrance Bevan Jones.

Cowden was also given a two-year community order at Cannock Magistrates Court yesterday. She did not have to pay prosecution costs as the court heard she had paid £13,000 for her defence costs.

She was found guilty after a trial at Stafford Magistrates Court in February of harassment without violence by making abusive and threatening telephone calls and sending an abusive test message to the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough councillor between February 20 and March 7, 2008.

Cowden was also found guilty of harassment without violence by using abusive language and making threats to Mr Bevan Jones between January 2 and February 6, 2008.

Neither Mr Bevan Jones or Councillor Allaway wanted to discuss the details of the case following the hearing. But Councillor Allaway said: “I’m glad it’s over now and I just hope she abides by the restraining order.”

Councillor Joyce Allaway

Mr John Peel, prosecuting, told the court there had been a dispute between Cowden and Mr Bevan Jones going back to 2005 about a shared driveway. He said: “The second charge relates to Councillor Joyce Allaway for the Sundorne area, because she was a councillor, she became victim of the harassment as well.”

Mr Peel said harassment towards Mr Bevan Jones took the form of Cowden banging on the garage and shouting obscenities at him. The harassment to Mrs Allaway related to phone calls and a text message.

He added: “It’s quite clear Mrs Cowden has not put this matter to bed. She currently has CCTV cameras on her house – one aimed at Mr Bevan Jones’ living room window and one on his front door.”