A MAN who drove neighbours mad by blaring out loud music has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Gavin Townroe played songs, including Viva Forever, by the Spice Girls, so loud that one neighbour at Digby Court, in Lenton, had to be signed off sick from work due to lack of sleep.
Other people living in the block of flats would even leave their homes just to get away from the noise.
Townroe, 33, ended up in Nottingham County Court after ignoring an injunction which demanded he keep the volume down. Community Protection officers investigated the problem after neighbours bombarded them with complaints.
Townroe has now been given a six-week suspended jail term for breaching the antisocial behaviour injunction after officers went to the flats and heard loud music still playing.
One of his neighbours, Salah Alsayed, 33, told the Post he first complained about the problem in January last year.
He said: "It was different music – rock, dance, R&B – and the police have been here many times. I like music too – but not like that.
"Friday, Saturday, you don't mind, but seven days a week it's very difficult to deal with.
"Sometimes it would happen in the mornings, seven, eight o'clock."
He added: "It's taken nearly two years to come to this."
Wayne Cliff, an enforcement officer from Canning Circus Police Station, told the court he heard the Spice Girls blasting out from Townroe's flat.
He said: "Despite being warned, Mr Townroe had a total disregard for his neighbours and for the antisocial behaviour injunction placed upon him.
"I'd like to thank residents for their commitment and determination in providing evidence to enable such action to be taken and hope this case reassures residents that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated."
In court, Townroe admitted that he might have played music loudly or allowed other people in to his flat who put music on. But he could not remember many of the incidents neighbours complained of as he was drunk at the time, the court was told.
Digby Court is run by Nottingham City Homes and is one of five blocks of flats off Church Street, Lenton.
Nottingham City Homes director of housing Gill Moy said: "Neighbours should never be subjected to antisocial behaviour like this and the court's actions back up how serious it is. The playing of loud music at all times is unacceptable and something we treat seriously to make sure our tenants and residents can live a peaceful life in their own homes."
The Post could not contact Townroe yesterday.
