Shropshire farmer's wife harassed neighbours

Helena Lane was subject to a restraining order to stop her loitering outside Richard and Ann Willis's home in Chapel Lawn, Bucknell, near Clun.

But she twice stopped her Reliant Robin outside to take pictures, the trial at Telford magistrates court heard yesterday.

The bench found Lane, also of Chapel Lawn, Bucknell, guilty of two charges of harassment in breach of a restraining order, one on April 21, 2013, and the other on April 23.

Both incidents were captured by a CCTV camera mounted on the front of the Willis's house.

Mrs Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said that on the first occasion Mrs Willis was at her kitchen window at the front of the house when Lane stopped and took a photograph. Just two days later Lane pulled up and again took photographs, this time of Mr Willis in his front garden.

Lane denied breaching the restraining order and said she had wanted to photograph the CCTV camera because she was concerned it filmed her property.

Mrs Willis said of both incidents: "It has put an immense lot of pressure on my husband's health because he suffered a heart attack and has had to have some blood pressure tablets because of the stress."

Mr Willis told the hearing: "As soon as we hear the car engine, the revs - she spent a lot of time outside revving the engine - I start to shake."

Chairing the magistrates, Mrs Sue Tyrrell, told Lane: "Not only were you loitering but you know that the order was to protect the Willises from conduct which amounts to harassment."

She fined Lane £450 and ordered her to pay costs of £505 and a victim surcharge of £45.

The wording of the restraining order was also altered to include loitering.