A Muswell Hill pensioner who was jailed after he was accused of a catalogue of acts of nuisance and anti-social behaviour has been freed by top judges.

Ronald Brown, 80, was committed to prison for 18 months by a county court judge last November for breaches of injunctions made against him.

Mr Brown had been banned by court orders from a number of specific acts after complaints within his community in Dukes Avenue.

They included filming or taking photos of neighbours, using or threatening violence, making excessive noise, and using foul language.

But he ended up in prison after Haringey Borough Council took him to court over alleged breaches and Judge David Mitchell found him in contempt of court.

However, he has now been freed after complaining to appeal judges that it was wrong to deal with his case without him being legally represented.

Lord Justice McCombe said Mr Brown had been at court on the first day of his case, but had complained of illness the following day.

It was wrong for the judge then to have proceeded with the case in his absence and without any lawyers representing him, he said.

Mr Brown had already left the property where he had been living, so it would not have harmed anyone if there was an adjournment, he said.

The allegations had accused Mr Brown of "very bad behaviour", but he should have been legally represented if at all possible, the judge continued.

"'It is highly desirable that such an individual should be legally represented, if he or she so wishes," he said.

The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Lewison and Lord Justice Richards, quashed the finding that Mr Brown was in contempt of court and ordered his release.