A pensioner dubbed the ‘neighbour from hell’ has been jailed for repeatedly breaching a restraining order.
Terrance Maitland, from Whiston in Liverpool, has been jailed for 20 weeks after ignoring the order which banned him from contacting Giovani Jacovelli.
Llandudno Magistrates’ Court heard how Maitland, 65, subjected Mr Jacovelli, 62, to a campaign of harassment.
The neighbour’s bitter dispute led to the restraining order being put in place and the pair appearing on Channel 5’s The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door.
Terrence Maitland was filmed verbally abusing his neighbour, and has now been sentenced to 20 weeks for breaching a restraining order
Jacob Jacovelli, who runs the Conwy Valley Maze, says he has been subjected to repeated threats by Maitland
Mr Jacovelli, who runs the Conwy Valley Maze in north Wales, says he has been subjected to repeated threats by Maitland, who lets out a holiday cottage on neighbouring land.
In footage previously filmed by Mr Jacovelli, Maitland is heard shouting: ‘That post is staying. You touch it and I’ll f****** bury you’.
He also says: ‘It’s my property and I’ll rip you to bits’ and ‘touch my post and I’ll destroy you… I’ll rip your head off.’
Mel Hughes, prosecuting, said Maitland breached a restraining order on March 11, March 14 and April 6 this year.
Mr Hughes said Maitland made 16 complaints to police about his neighbour between February 2015 and March this year but no action was taken because they were regarded as unfounded.
‘There’s been a long running history of ill feeling,’ he added.
Mr Jacovelli told the court Maitland made lewd gestures to his family from a balcony of a static caravan, from his driveway, and verbally abused him from his garden.
He told Maitland’s defence barrister Tom Rushton: ‘I don’t have any hatred towards Mr Maitland, I had to retain a degree of calmness. He’s just someone who needs help.’
He denied telling the defendant ‘to go back to your s****hole’, while Mrs Jacovelli denied making a comment about prison to Maitland or seeking to antagonise him.
In footage previously filmed by Mr Jacovelli, Mr Maitland is heard shouting: ‘That post is staying. You touch it and I’ll f****** bury you
Enrico Javovelli told the court how Maitland held a mobile phone in one hand and make a lewd sign towards his father with the other hand.
‘He told me to f*** off,’ he added.
In evidence Maitland denied swearing or making rude gestures and claimed his neighbour had baited him ‘from day one.’
He said: ‘He [Jacovelli] said ‘I’ll get you put in jail’. He doesn’t like me as a neighbour.’
He admitted breaching the restraining order ‘but under pressure, under provocation.’
Prosecutor Mr Hughes said Maitland had defied the order ‘countless times and continues to do so.’
Mr Rushton added: ‘The Jacovelli family doesn’t like Mr Maitland as much as he doesn’t like them.’
Maitland is now banned from the house he lets as a holiday home alongside The Maze
Finding him guilty of the three charges, chair of the bench Darren Campbell said Maitland’s evidence had been contradictory and not supported by his two witnesses.
He told Maitland it was the fifth time he had breached the order and it was so serious ‘only an immediate custodial sentence is open to us.’
After the hearing Mr Javovelli said: ‘He’s brought it upon himself. He’s uncontrollable.’
Mr Campbell handed Maitland an eight week suspended jail term with an extra 20 weeks.
He also banned Maitland from contacting Mr Jacovelli’s wife and son and extended the restraining order for a further two years, until 2020.
Maitland is now banned from the house he lets as a holiday home alongside The Maze, and was ordered to pay Mr Jacovelli £200 compensation with costs of £735.