Neighbours from hell’ Scots author and wife banned from street, forced to sell £500k home
David Aston, 56, and his wife Jacqueline, 58, have been ordered to stay away from their former next door neighbours for 15 years after a campaign of harassment. Victims who were terrorised by the couple have praised the sentence that means their tormentors are being forced to move house.
Marie and Robert Bain described their three-year ordeal at the hands of the disabled author and his wife as “a living hell” and have praised a sheriff’s decision to ban the couple from the street they lived in. The Astons were handed non-harassment orders banning them from having any contact with their next-door neighbours for the next 15 years and were also given a further order to stay away from the street – Blackadder Crescent in North Berwick, East Lothian – for the same length of time starting in January next year.
The sentencing imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court effectively means the couple will have to leave their £500,000 home where they have lived for the past six years. Found guilty of carrying out a hate campaign against neighbours Catriona Henderson, her partner Stuart McMorris, Marie, Robert Bain, and a third couple, the Astons were also ordered to pay a total of £10,000 in compensation to the victims.
The victims, accompanied by family and friends, heard the sentencing outcome following a 24-day trial that took 11 months to complete. Marie expressed her relief outside the court, stating, “I am absolutely delighted – obviously a custodial sentence would have been just, but we got the best outcome because the Astons are going to have to leave [the estate].”
Mr. Bain added, “My wife has gone through hell over this and we are both very emotional at the moment. We were hoping for the banning order for the street and although custody would have been great having a non-harassment order meaning they have to move is a wonderful outcome.”
The court heard the Astons made false reports to the police and local authority about their neighbours and recorded them on mobile phones nearly daily over three years. Jacqueline Aston made malicious reports concerning Ms. Henderson to the General Teaching Council for Scotland in an attempt to ruin her teaching career.
David Aston, a former chartered accountant, had written a novel featuring a character with superpowers following a stroke, who then seeks revenge on their community. Aston wrote the book after suffering serious injuries, including brain trauma and a massive stroke, from a car crash a decade ago.
In conclusion, the Astons’ campaign of harassment has led to them being banned from their street and forced to sell their home. The victims have expressed relief and satisfaction at the sentencing, hoping to now move on with their lives.
**Insights and Summary:**
The case of David Aston and his wife Jacqueline being banned from their street and forced to sell their home due to a campaign of harassment against their neighbours highlights the impact of anti-social behaviour on communities. The judicial decision to impose non-harassment orders and compensation serves as a reminder of the legal repercussions of such actions. It also underscores the importance of addressing neighbour disputes promptly to prevent further escalation and harm to those involved. Moving forward, the victims can hopefully find closure and peace as they navigate the aftermath of this prolonged ordeal. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of toxic neighbourly relations and the legal avenues available to address such situations effectively.