Man sentenced for “six month campaign of bullying and anti-social behaviour” against neighbours

The Chester Standard reports on the sentencing of a man who subjected his neighbours to a “six month campaign of bullying and anti-social behaviour.”

James Turfrey, 40, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to two charges of harassment without violence and racially aggravated harassment.

The court heard that his victims were a couple who lived above his ground floor flat, Mr Saif Altai and Stefka Tsoleva. The couple reported 21 incidents to the police concerning Mr Turfrey before he was issued with an anti-social behaviour order on 15 may.

The court heard that the couple endured further incidents including threats by Mr Turfrey who told them “I want to kill you.”

On June 24 Mr Altai arrived home and heard Turfrey hurling abuse at him. Mr Altai had also seen Turfrey approach his garden gate before looking up to the upstairs flat and motioning to fire a rifle. On another occasion Mr Turfrey was seen to open all the windows in his flat before repeatedly shouting racist obscenities.

The court heard on June 2 Ms Tsoleva was at home alone when she heard Turfrey “smashing things in his flat for 30 minutes” before seeing him raging outside where he shouted out “I won’t let you win” and was verbally abusive.

West Cheshire magistrates chairman William Culshaw told Mr Turfrey his behaviour was not acceptable in today’s society and jailed him for 16 weeks.

Mr Turfrey was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and was made subject to a two-year restraining order, preventing him from having any contact with the couple or entering the first floor of their block of flats.