Man who made neighbour's life 'hell for 14 years' sentenced at Derry court
A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court said a 69-year-old woman who had been pestered by her neighbour 'just wants peace'.
The comment came in the case of Anson Earle Dawick (42) of Aghamore Park in Derry, who admitted breaching a Restraining Order on May 19 2026.
The court heard that the injured party complained her neighbour, Dawick, had engaged in behaviour she felt was intimidating, contrary to a Restraining Order that was in place.
Police were shown CCTV of Dawick in the early hours of the morning banging his gate and the woman said he had been banging on her walls.
At one stage, Dawick looks at the camera and makes an abusive remark, the court heard on Friday.
He later told police that his remark was directed at himself and no one else.
Defence counsel Michael Donaghy said that the defendant said he suffered from PTSD after a police officer was shot beside him years ago.
He said that the defendant maintained a tenancy at the old address but had been living somewhere else for the past seven months.
District Judge Ted Magill said this man had 'made (the woman's) life hell for 14 years'.
He said the 69-year-old had said she was sleeping better over the last seven months since Dawick moved away.
The judge added that the woman just wanted to get her life back.
He sentenced Dawick to 3 months in prison, suspended for 3 years. A Restraining Order was also imposed, forbidding Dawick from any contact with the woman and he is also forbidden from entering the street where the woman lives.