A HANDFORTH man who whistled a Rolf Harris song through his hedge to annoy his neighbour has avoided jail despite breaching a court order.

In an ongoing saga, retired panel-beater Michael Hall deliberately destroyed the peace for those living in Thornton Drive by using a leaf blower and playing a radio when banned from doing so.

The 67-year-old would also whistle the song 'Two Little Boys' through his garden hedge in a further act his adjacent neighbour, Timothy Royle, described as 'relentless' and 'soul destroying'.

Hall denied breaching the terms of a restraining order twice between May and July last year.

But after being found guilty at a trial in March, he appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, April 12, where he was handed a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Nick Smart, prosecuting, said there was significant background to the case, dating back a number of years, before Hall had even been subject to that restraining order in November 2019.

That order had been issued after Hall had caused Mr Royle and other neighbours, including Peter Dean, unnecessary suffering for many years, by using power tools during anti-social hours and pointing CCTV at their properties.

He said: "Despite things initially quietening down after the order was issued, things began to get worse.

"Mr Hall would be using his leaf blower in his front garden, despite there being no leaves to blow.

"Mr Royle has suffered for far too long by the deliberate acts of Mr Hall, and so have all his other neighbours."

After Hall was arrested in August last year he told police officers during interview it was actually his neighbours who had the problem with him and denied ever using the leaf blower to deliberately cause a nuisance.

Mr Royle, who appeared in court to read out a victim personal statement, explained how he had moved into his home back in 2016, having bought the house for a reduced price.

He said: "I bought the house from the previous vendor, who was so desperate to sell he did so for £60,000 under the market value.

"He made me aware of the problems he had with his neighbour but I wanted to make the property my own and I thought I would be able to just be myself and deal with it.

"Mr Hall's behaviour has been relentless and soul destroying.

"I was convinced he would receive a custodial sentence last time (in 2019).

"But his charmed life in court continued and he displayed acts of tomfoolery by laughing and dancing in the court room.

"His antics included setting up a double spot light and shining it into Peter Dean's bedroom window for hours at a time.

"A telling sign of his disregard is the fact he still deliberately sings and whistles at me at the front of my house.

"We have all suffered through his disgraceful behaviour."

Joe Rawlins, defending, said his client's double breach of the restraining order had clearly crossed the custody threshold, but called on magistrates to consider suspending any immediate sentence.

"This quite the saga," he said.

"Neither Mr Royle or my client have any intention of selling their homes.

"Both parties will remain living in close quarters to one another for the foreseeable future.

"But not all disposals have been exhausted in terms of rehabilitation and the probation service have said how custody would do little to address the underlying factors of Mr Hall's behaviour.

Mr Rawlins went on to say how Hall was the sole carer of his wife and that the offending was 'low level' with no violence or threats of such ever being made.

After considering their verdict, magistrates decided to give Hall one final chance.

He will serve six months for each of the two breaches, to be served consecutively, but suspended for two years.

Chair Marilyn Gibson said: "These offences are so serious a custodial sentence is justified.

"You have shown a blatant disregard of previous court orders.

"There is no next chance Mr Hall.

"To all intents and purposes this is a custodial sentence."

Hall was also made the subject of a new restraining order, which will run until May 11, 2023 and will also have pay compensation of £300 to Mr Royale and £100 to Mr Dean.

He will also have to pay prosecution costs of £965 and a surcharge of £156 and complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days with the probation service.