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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Carl Jackson & Alahna Kindred

Nightmare neighbour harassed disabled man by attacking Ring doorbell camera

A nightmare neighbour terrorised a wheelchair-bound man by attacking his Ring doorbell camera with a hammer and screwdriver.

Stephen Groves, 56, was due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday but failed to turn up.

Instead, he was found guilty of harassment without violence in his absence, BirminghamLive reports.

Groves had pleaded guilty to two other charges of harassment in November last year. The victims were care workers, The Sun reported.

Police later went to Groves' home in Shard End, Birmingham after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

During the trial, Groves was accused of subjecting care worker Dawn Hadley and disabled client Steven Persaud, 61, to a campaign of harassment.

Stephen Groves was caught on Steven Persaud's Ring doorbell camera hacking at it with a pen (BPM MEDIA)

Steven and his niece Victoria Rascinskis were left feeling "intimidated and scared" by his actions, the court heard.

Groves is alleged to have played loud music from his house which was making the care worker and Steven uncomfortable.

Groves, who was not in court, had also once locked up Dawn and Steven, who also has mental health issues, in a communal alleyway and refused to let them out, the court heard.

Steven Persaud and his niece Victora who installed the Ring doorbell camera (BPM MEDIA)

It was also claimed that Groves had repeatedly tried to destroy a Ring doorbell that Steven's niece Victoria, 39, had installed, it was claimed.

The camera caught him using pliers to cut wires - which led to him admitting criminal damage before magistrates in August 2021.

Just days before his court appearance, he was seen appearing to take a pen to the lens of the Ring camera.

Groves was handed a conditional discharge after admitting criminal damage.

In July, the Ring doorbell also picked Groves up trying to rip the bell from the wall with his hands.

A week later, he was filmed using a screwdriver to jab at the lens.

Groves told police in a voluntary statement to police that he was causing distress to Dawn by playing loud music.

Steven Persaud and his niece Victoria Rascinskis say they have been harassed by Groves (BPM MEDIA)

Groves was asked: "Did you cause Dawn alarm or distress?"

He replied: "Yes - maybe it was the music. I was being silly. Maybe she feels unsafe because of the music. It could cause alarm and distress."

Groves will appear back in court for sentencing in February.

Speaking after the court case, Victoria Rascinskis told BirminghamLive: "It has been hell for my uncle. He is a disabled man with Parkinson's disease and he just doesn't need this added stress.

"It is has also been terrible for the carers who come to his home who are just trying to do their jobs.

"I just hope he receives the sentence he deserves. We need this to stop as we are all at the end of our tethers."

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