A pensioner who harassed, stalked and intimidated neighbours for 20 years has been jailed.

Ronald Brown, 80, filmed and photographed neighbours in Dukes Avenue, Muswell Hill, as they came and went from their homes, followed them around the neighbourhood, and accused them of prostitution, child abuse and paedophilia.

On one occasion he and his partner Halina Wilson, 67, accused a neighbour of murdering a previous tenant of their property after searching public records for the death certificate.

The pair also racially abused people and kept them awake all night by constantly slamming doors, banging on walls and playing loud music for hours on end.

They also tried to obtain injunction orders and arrest warrants against neighbours, based on malicious and false allegations.

Haringey Council and police spent years gathering evidence against the couple, who managed to dodge justice on several occasions after complainants chose to move away rather than give evidence against them. 

In May this year Central London County Court ordered the pair’s eviction and granted an injunction which ordered them to stop harassing residents in the street.

Before he was evicted, Mr Brown had breached the injunction at least 30 times, continuing to plague his neighbours with racist and homophobic abuse, follow them around the local area and bang on their windows in the middle of the night.

On November 27, he was found guilty in his absence of breaching his injunction and sentenced to 18 months in jail.

A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was jailed on December 4.

Haringey Council was forced to spend nearly £80,000 in legal costs pursuing the couple, which they have now been ordered to pay back between them.

Haringey Council cabinet member for communities Councillor Bernice Vanier said: “This was a truly shocking case and an example of how anti-social behaviour can ruin people’s lives.

“Due to their determination to play the system they were able to drag out this case, placing a huge cost on taxpayers as well as further adding to the distress of their innocent neighbours.

“In the end the result was down to the bravery of residents who gave evidence despite fearing intimidation, as well as the determination of the council and police to bring them to justice.

“I hope now that residents in Dukes Avenue can enjoy the peace, quiet and safety in their own homes that everyone deserves.”