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A bullying neighbour has been jailed after waging a campaign of harassment against a lone pensioner in Coventry after she complained about him burning waste in his garden.

Roofing company boss Darren Wilson told the 74-year-old “I’m going to terrorise you for the rest of your life” after he and his firm were fined for breaching an environmental health order, Warwick Crown Court was told.

Wilson, 45, of Wall Hill Road, Allesley, Coventry, was jailed for 14 months after he had pleaded guilty to putting the pensioner in fear of violence by harassment.

Judge Alan Parker, who also imposed a restraining order on Wilson, told him: “She describes you as having made her life a nightmare for the past three years. You made her life an utter misery.”

Prosecutor Talbir Singh said the retired pensioner had lived at her home for 17 years, with Wilson as her neighbour for the last seven.

“The defendant’s business was that he was a roofer, and after he moved in there were occasions when he would burn roofing material in the back of his garden.

“The smoke would go over into her garden, and it would have a grave impact on her health, particularly her lungs.

“Things came to a head in the summer of 2013 when he began to increase the number of occasions he had fires.”

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She sent him a note asking him to stop, and he apologised and assured her it would not happen again – but it did.

His neighbour contacted the local authority, and in January last year Wilson was issued with an abatement notice, which he ignored.

In February his neighbour saw smoke coming from Wilson’s garden, and when she complained again he threatened: “If it’s war you want, it’s war you’ll get. I’m good at destroying things by fire. I can do a lot of creeping round at night around your bungalow.”

Terrified, she locked her door and called the police and the environmental officers who issued another notice.

In June she called the police again after Wilson began banging on her door and windows; and he was aggressive towards officers who then served him with a harassment warning notice.

In July he and his firm were convicted of breaching the abatement notice following a trial at Nuneaton Magistrates Court, during which his neighbour gave evidence, and were fined.

His harassment continued in September when he blocked her in as she was going out before going over to her car and shouting: “You’re responsible. £21,000 I’ve got to pay because of you.”

He then told her: “You’re not going to be able to live in your property. I’m going to terrorise you for the rest of your life.

“I could put you in hospital. I could smash up your car and your house. You wait and see what I’m going to do.”

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Wilson had lodged an appeal against his conviction and fine, but abandoned it on the day of the hearing, at which his neighbour had again been due to give evidence.

And after she got home, she was sitting with her daughter when Wilson knocked on her door and began ranting: “Are you happy about what happened to me in court? I’m going to be on to you and get my own back. I’m just waiting for the right moment.”

Arguing that Wilson could be given a suspended sentence, Sophie Murray, defending, said he had now put his home on the market and plans to move out of the area.

She added: “An immediate custodial sentence would have a serious detrimental effect on the family of Mr Wilson, who has demonstrated clear remorse, and he provides employment for other members of the community.”

But jailing Wilson, Judge Parker told him: “Your victim is in her 70s. She lived alone in what is an isolated location, so she was inherently vulnerable.

“All she has wanted is for you to cease your nuisance conduct and to be able to enjoy her home without threats of violence.

“She describes you as having made her life a nightmare for the past three years. You made her life an utter misery and terrified her.”