Mary De Jong and the controversial bushes in the courtyard (Picture: SWNS)

A pensioner in the middle of a court case about a pot plant has spoken out about the trauma of living next to the woman she dubbed ‘Britain’s worst neighbour’.

Elizabeth Kingston, 74, moved back to Britain looking for a quiet rural life when she was forced to flee Zimbabwe after her property was seized and her husband was arrested.

However for the last six years she says she has been put through hell at the hands of fellow OAP Mary De Jong after installing a gate between their houses.

De Jong, 67, was recently warned she faces a prison sentence for twice breaching a restraining order against fellow neighbour Stephen Johnston.




She was given the restraining order in 2017 after she was accused of intentionally planting a bush in front of Mr Johnston’s window and using CCTV cameras to monitor his front door.

Elizabeth Kingston said she just wanted a quiet life (Picture: SWNS)

Exeter Crown Court heard De Jong turned on Mr Johnston after he gave a statement supporting Elizabeth in her long running dispute with the defendant.

De Jong refused to cut back the bamboo plant that blocked his window in an idyllic courtyard in Topsham, Devon, resulting in the restraining order.

Prosecutor Lee Brembidge described her actions as akin to ‘Chinese water torture’ and she was told by a judge that all sentencing options remained open when she returns to court next week.

He said: ‘For months Mary De Jong has been terrorising Stephen Johnston, with her pot plants and her CCTV cameras.

‘He has tried to deal with things reasonably. Mary de Jong is not a reasonable person.’

The bushes grew to cover Mr Johnston’s kitchen window (Picture: SWNS)

Although De Jong denied the two restraining order breaches, she was convicted unanimously by a jury on Tuesday.

Elizabeth said the peace she found in the first few years back in the UK after fleeing Zimbabwe was shattered when De Jong moved in next door seven years ago.

Although she appeared nice at first, their relationship soured after Elizabeth installed a gate to stop dogs accessing each other’s gardens.

Elizabeth claimed De Jong reacted by blocking access to her home with large rocks several times a day and has antagonised her on a daily basis ever since.

She said: ‘Things changed when I put in a gate to stop our dogs going into each other’s gardens.

‘She started to block me with rocks so I could not get out. They were large rocks on the outside and I was trapped. She would do this several times a day.

‘Police said to put CCTV up but she covered it with dog poo bags.

‘She really is something else.’

Mary De Jong will now be sentenced next week (Picture: SWNS)

She added things even turned violent in December 2016 when De Jong rammed her with a bike leaving her with injuries, resulting in a conviction for common assault.

Elizabeth said she hoped De Jong’s conviction for breaching the restraining order meant they could all finally get some peace.



She said: ‘She has continued to terrorise us. She always makes her presence known. There is so much more to all of this than just simply a pot plant.

‘She has been playing games with us for all these years.

‘I would definitely describe her as Britain’s worst neighbour.

‘We are all very sad this has happened, it has been six years of our lives we won’t get back. This had to happen and I hope it brings an end to it all.

‘I just want a quiet life.’

The idyllic courtyard turned into a hell for Elizabeth and Mr Johnston (Picture: SWNS)

De Jong maintained that the bamboo plant had been cut back, adding the CCTV cameras were not pointed at Mr Johnston’s door.

In response De Jong said: ‘This all started with the dispute with Elizabeth Kingston. She started to prevent me using my legal right of way.

‘But I just want a peaceful life. I don’t know what happens now but this was not justice.’

She will now be sentenced on August 16.