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A COUPLE described as neighbours from hell have agreed to stop filming their neighbours and pestering Teesside housing chiefs.

Tony and Linda Gilkes of Birkhall Road, Thorntree, were taken to court by landlords Erimus Housing for their harassment and trivial complaints.

A trial began yesterday at Middlesbrough County Court, but in the afternoon the Gilkes agreed to sign an undertaking under which they agreed to the terms of the injunction.

The couple have promised not to correspond directly with any employee of Erimus Housing by e-mail except for the appropriate housing officer.

The court heard the pair had taken trivial matters directly to Erimus director of housing Susie Thompson.

They also can no longer direct any CCTV camera to operate into neighbouring properties, or make trivial complaints to Erimus unless they can provide logs and diary sheets every three months.

Judge David Bryant warned the couple any breaches of their promises could mean a prison sentence of up to two years.

Philip Barber, representing Erimus Housing, said they had taking court action “to stop the sheer volume of complaints which have been coming from Mr and Mrs Gilkes.”

He added: “The way they (Erimus Housing) see it, they are unable to do anything else in relation to dealing with these issues.

“Mr and Mrs Gilkes have relentlessly pursued and intimidated the neighbours by making spurious and trivial complaints about them to the extent it has made the lives of neighbours impossible to live.”

After the hearing current and former neighbours of the couple said they were not convinced the court action would change their life.

Salina Leach, 33, who lives next door said she was on anti-depressants due to the problems she has had with the couple in the last 18 months.

She said: “They are the neighbours from hell. We have asked to leave nearly every month since May. We could write a book about them.

“There is no community in that area because of them.”

Susie Thompson, Erimus director of housing, said: “We are committed to dealing fully with genuine complaints but we will not tolerate malicious and persistent complaints.”

The Gazette was unable to contact Mr and Mrs Gilkes for a comment.