Keyboard and organ seized from OAP's home in noise row

[dutchman]

A musician has had his instruments seized after neighbours complained about his loud performances.



Council officers seized classically trained OAP John Hudspith’s keyboard, organ and amplifier after it was claimed he breached a noise abatement order for a third time.

Enforcement officers and police went to the 72-year-old pianist’s home in Simpson Grove, Willenhall, Coventry, on Friday.

They also seized everything that could make a noise including tape players, TVs, a megaphone and even an ornamental gong.

The retired hotel manager told the Telegraph that his house was damaged and he was assaulted during the raid.

“They had a warrant so if they had come in, taken their time and moved everything carefully then I wouldn’t be upset,” he said.

“It’s the manner they did it, the speed they did it and the lack of respect they showed for my house.

“When my stuff is returned it will need to be fully inspected before I accept it.

“It broke my heart to see them remove my keyboard in that way, carrying it upside down.

“I used to do concerts,” he added.

“I mostly play classical music but sometimes I’ll play a bit of boogie woogie. Never at night though.”

Mr Hudspith said the noise dispute with his neighbour started because of slamming doors.

He acknowledged that he had retaliated, but denied the problem had escalated to the point where his items should be seized.

As well as the instruments, the council also seized a touch screen monitor, two sets of speakers, two VHS players and a turntable.

The Telegraph understands that it’s the third time the pianist has been accused of breaching a noise abatement order.

It’s understood that when police attended Mr Hudspith’s home officers heard him playing Summer of 69, by Bryan Adams, and Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers.

A few hours before the alleged breach he says he had spoken to police and was told that there would be no further action against him.

The pensioner says he is now planning to take legal action following the seizure.

It’s understood legal action will be taken against the pensioner for breaching the noise abatement order.

Inspector Sean Quirie, from Coventry Police, said: “West Midlands Police assisted Coventry City Council in the execution of a warrant at an address in Simpson Grove after the occupant had breached a noise order, banning him from making excessive noise.

“As part of the warrant all stereos, musical instruments and other noise-making items were seized prompting an allegation that items were stolen during the joint action.

“The man, who is in his early 70s, also alleges that he was assaulted by all of those who attended the property.

“Officers are due to speak with the man at Coventry Central police station to discuss his concerns.”

A spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “As legal proceedings are on-going we are unable to comment further at this stage.”

[dutchman]

A noisy neighbour who created a “wall of sound” as he repeatedly played Bryan Adams’ Summer of 69 has been convicted of three noise nuisance offences.



John Hudspith, 72, was heard playing the classic hit and a Jive Bunny megamix at an “incredibly” loud volume by a police officer called to a complaint from a neighbour.

The classically-trained pianist told a court that he only listened to Classic FM on two small radios to cover the noise of the neighbour’s television and rock music was “not my cup of tea”.

But the officer and two council officials gave evidence describing how they heard loud music, also including Jingle Bells, coming from his home in Willenhall, Coventry.

The retired hotel manager, who uses two hearing aids, had pleaded not guilty to breaching a noise abatement notice on April 24, June 28 and July 17 this year.

PC Steve Sharpe, a neighbourhood policing officer, said: “On arriving, on stepping out of the car, I was confronted by what I would describe as a wall of noise, very, very loud noise that we went towards to try and identify where the noise was from.

“It was recorded music being played at an extremely loud level going through the entire street.”

PC Sharpe described how he struggled to speak to the next-door neighbour in Simpson Grove.

He said: “The incredibly loud music was being played through the wall. The clarity of the noise was such I believed it wasn’t being played through ordinary hi-fi stereo equipment. Conversation was difficult.”

Hudspith, a former deep sea diver, continued the noise after the officer arrived next door on July 17.

PC Sharpe said: “The original track which was repeated three times back-to-back was Bryan Adams Summer of 69.”

Hudspith told the court on Monday that none of the loud music had emanated from his home but one of his neighbours was a Bryan Adams fan.

He said: “The young girl loves Bryan Adams, that’s her kind of music, I don’t complain about it.

“Yes I can hear it, she has her windows open, she doesn’t play it all day long. I don’t play Bryan Adams,

“I have heard of his songs but I don’t have any music by Bryan Adams, it’s not my cup of tea.”

Hudspith said of the Jingle Bells track: “I have got a record with Christmas Carols on, it could be on there but I wouldn’t be playing that in April.”

Andris Skudra, representing Hudspith, told the court that the council and police had failed to prove beyond doubt that the noise came from his client’s property and the prosecution had not called neighbours as witnesses to testify to the problem.

Mr Skudra told magistrates: “You may feel that for someone whose love and joy of playing piano and playing classical music the Summer of 69 is perhaps not in fitting with his musical tastes.”

Hudspith was convicted of the offences at Leamington Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a fine of £250, a victim surcharge of £25, costs of £500 and a criminal court charge of £520.

The court ordered that some musical equipment seized from Hudspith, including his computer, radios, television, a piano, an electrical organ and an antique elephant gong, be returned.

[Melisandre]

There was me thinking for a moment he had good tsste in music Summer of 69 and Jive bunny . Never mind lets hope he has learned his lesson.