Gerry Duffy, 76, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates' Court on the day of his trial to damaging his neighbour's pond, water pump and pipes, as well as killing fish, after a dispute over noise from a pond pump in March. The court heard that Duffy, of Hadley Road, Barnet, north London, used motor oil and detergent to kill his neighbour's fish.
What did the court hear about the dispute?
The court heard that Duffy said he had been "driven completely insane" by the sound of the water pump in his neighbour's pond. His defence, Elliott Stern, told the court:
The man has been driven completely insane by this noise, he's spoken to the complainant several times.
Prosecutor Shahid Iftakhar said the neighbour dispute between Dufffy and his neighbour, Andreas Ptohides, may have caused £565 of damage. He told the court that "five or six" Koi carp were killed and that CCTV images captured Duffy "climbing into the garden" to break the water pump and pipes.
Iftakhar said:
The defendant has previously complained to the complainant about noise coming from his garden and has said words to the effect of, 'if you didn't deal with it, I would' – there was a warning before the incident.
The prosecution added that Duffy was captured on CCTV having "climbed into the complainant's garden and damaged the water pipes and pumps".
What was said in mitigation?
In mitigation, Stern said the neighbour "initially said they would stop the water pump going but then turned around and said that's not good for the fish". The court also heard that an environmental officer came to the house and told Duffy he either had to "move or close his window".
Stern told the court:
Out of sheer frustration and lack of sleep, Mr Duffy, out of character, I would say, lost his mind and committed various damages.
Duffy will be sentenced later on Tuesday.
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