We often don’t have a choice of who we live next-door to.
Some people can get along great with their neighbours, they build friendships which can last for years.
Others go through life without ever saying hello to each other.
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But then there are a select few who do not see eye-to-eye, and become incredibly hostile.
When it becomes harassing and causes a major disturbance, they are hauled before the courts for their behaviour.
Over the last few months, the Manchester Evening News has covered many court cases of the neighbours from hell, including a woman who repeatedly stripped off, a drunk axeman and a music-mad neighbour.
Lisa Cartmell
Lisa Cartmell was branded a ‘living nightmare’ by her neighbours following a two-year hate campaign.
The 35-year-old stripped off and streaked in around her front lawn in full view of the family - including their children.
In one outburst, Cartmell stood at her window naked as she shouted death threats and at another time she yelled: ''Just you wait and see. When I see you, I'm going to kill you!''
In a separate incident she repeatedly lifted her top to flash her breast at the couple's four children as she walked down the street outside her home.
She also threatened to petrol bomb the couple's property and recruit someone to rape the youngsters.
In a statement, the mum-of-four said: ''Lisa's behaviour has been seriously concerning for my family.
"I feel like it's only a matter of time before something happens and I'm living on the edge worried about our safety.
Police arrested Cartmell in July last year and charged her with causing a public nuisance by indecent exposure but her guilty plea to harassment was accepted.
Cartmell, of Westland Avenue in Farnworth , ordered to complete a two-year community order plus a 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, as well as being ordered to attend a six month mental health programme.
David Nash
David Nash had previously been friends with his neighbour, who lived on the same estate as him in Middleton.
However they fell out after he made suggestive remarks towards her and her friend, and following a number of tit-for-tat rows, the dispute exploded in September last year.
"You pass this gaff and I'll dive out and smash your f****** teeth all over the pavement and dance on your brains," Nash had said in a menacing text to a friend of the victim, two days before the attack.
On September 25, the woman and her friend walked past his flat and were met with a frightening scene.
Nash ran outside, armed with a hammer in his right hand and a knife in his left.
In terrifying footage Nash approached the victim, who was wearing a yellow dress, while wielding the hammer.
She threw a bottle at him in self defence, before they began to struggle over the weapon.
Nash threw a punch, which she was able to dodge, before grabbing her hair and headbutting her.
He then started making 'jabbing' motions towards her with the knife.
Nash walked off after nearby residents came out of their homes.
The victim was taken to hospital having suffered a cut to her forehead after being headbutted, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Nash, formerly of Tintern Road, Middleton, was jailed for two-and-a-half years, after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, section 20 wounding, threatening with a blade and threatening with an offensive weapon.
Aiden Broadhurst
Neighbours of Aiden Broadhurst were left terrified after he brandished an axe towards a group of teenagers.
The 27-year-old was seen ‘shouting’ at the youths before going into his house and emerging with something ‘small’ in his hand, causing the group to run off.
He then returned back to his house and produced a large axe.
As his ‘frightened’ neighbours asked him to go back inside, he emerged from his house again - with another axe.
He pleaded guilty to affray and two offences of possession of an offensive weapon, namely an axe, and was today jailed for ten-and-a-half months.
Sentencing him, Judge Bernadette Baxter said: “Whilst this was happening, your neighbours were on the street, obviously frightened.
“Frightened for their children and trying to placate you and get you back into your house.
“Clearly when in drink you are a violent and volatile man.2
Broadhurst, of Weaste Lane, Salford, was jailed for ten-and-a-half months.
Andrew Dearden
Andrew Dearden, of Bolton, caused a major nuisance to his neighbours after refusing to pick up dog faeces.
Residents complained about Dearden, of Hathaway Drive, since 2018, Bolton Council have said.
In one instance, a neighbour of Dearden had gone to the authority to complain about a dog pooing outside their home.
CCTV footage showed that the pet belonged to Dearden.
Mr Dearden failed to respond to multiple letters sent to his home by Bolton Council about the complaints and was taken to court.
Dearden pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrates’ to being a person in charge of a dog which has defecated on land which the fouling of land by dogs order applied, namely Hathaway Drive
He was fined £183 ordered to pay £550 costs and a £34 victim surcharge at Wigan Magistrates.
Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: “Dog fouling is a public concern and rightly so.
“Unfortunately, there are a minority of dog-owners who blight the environment and risk public health.
"This prosecution send a clear message that we are committed to keeping our borough safe and clean and dog fouling will not be tolerated.
“Not clearing up after your dog is quite simply lazy, selfish and irresponsible."
Barbara O’Shea
Fraudster Barbara O’Shea conned her neighbour out of thousands of pounds.
In August 2018, O'Shea, who worked as an admin officer for GMP, told her neighbour that she was trying to purchase a 20 per cent stake in a house.
He agreed to lend her the money, which she said she would re-pay him using a lump sum from her pension.
He firstly sent O'Shea, 58, a cheque for £13,250, which she spent within two days.
Then she told him she needed more money to buy another five per cent in the property.
In total he gave her £18,300.
He repeatedly asked her when she was going to pay him back, because he was trying to purchase his father's home after his death.
In September 2019, O'Shea told him she'd been suspended from work.
He then 'realised he wouldn't get his money back', prosecutors said.
O'Shea, of Stanway Street, Stretford, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to six counts of fraud by false representation and one charge of obtaining or disclosing personal details.
She was sentenced to a two year community order, to include 180 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
The court heard she has since paid the man back £3,000.
Jane Downall
Jane Downall squirted her neighbour with disinfectant out of fear she would contract Covid.
The 61-year-old used the anti-bacterial spray to clean her garden fence after the mum and daughter leaned over to chat to another neighbour three doors down.
But, as she unleashed the spray, droplets of the potentially corrosive liquid inadvertently hit the pair in the face and both had to seek medical treatment for suspected burns.
They both suffered redness to the cheeks, but fortunately did not receive lasting injuries.
At Tameside Magistrates' court Downall was convicted of common assault. She later appealed against the verdict but last week her plea was thrown out by a judge who conditionally discharged her for six months.
In an interview with police, Downall said: ‘I have been squirting disinfectant because they have been coughing over my fence. Sam was not just coughing, she was coughing in the garden and she was shouting and leaning over the fence and I was just trying to protect my parents.
Paul Wilde
Paul Wilde attacked his neighbour with an axe after accusing him of being a drug dealer.
The 52-year-old left his victim with a punctured lung and a fractured rib.
The man had been at a bus stop on Rake Lane when he asked Wilde 'are you alright mate?'
Wilde, who has worked in rugby with young people, mumbled something back and carried on drinking his energy drink.
Then he suddenly went to his car and pulled out the axe, also described as a 'hatchet'.
Wilde, who works in construction, told the man: "What the f*** are you and all your drug dealers doing around here?"
"What the f*** are you on about?," the victim replied.
He went to leave, but then felt a sharp pain.
Wilde had swung the axe and hit him to the chest, with the blunt end of the weapon.
In a statement, he said he felt in 'complete shock' at the attack, which happened 'on his own doorstep', and said he didn't feel safe knowing that Wilde lives nearby.
Wilde pleaded guilty to section 20 wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.
Wilde, of Rake Lane, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He must also pay his victim £750 in compensation.
Jonathan Tegland
Jonathan Tegland caused chaos for his next-door neighbours after repeatedly playing loud music.
Tegland, of Tonge Moor, was initially served with an abatement notice in July 2019 after Bolton Council investigated a number of complaints.
The 49-year-old described the notice as 'malicious' but sound monitoring equipment installed in the neighbour's home, by the council, proved eight breaches in the space of six weeks.
Representing the council, Mike Keaveney told the court that when the complainant tried to talk with Tegland, he would abuse her and turn his music up even louder.
Tegland admitted to eight counts of failing to comply with an abatement notice.
Representing himself, Tegland told the court that the woman was 'over-exaggerating' and admitted that he would often turn his music up on Bonfire Night, for his pets.
Tegland was fined £250, ordered to pay £250 court costs, and £32 victim surcharge.
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