Gillian O'Brien (pictured), 40, hurled racist abuse at Terence Oosthuizen, 42, and told him she would 'slit his children's throats', a court heard

A mother-of-two hurled racial abuse at her South African ex-soldier neighbour and called him a sex offender because he made too much noise building a guinea pig hutch in his garden.

Gillian O'Brien, 40, was convicted of harassment after she told Terence Oosthuizen, 42, she would 'slit his children's throats', a court heard.

The mother called Mr Oosthuizen a p*** and told told him to 'go back to his own country' when he used a hand saw to make the wooden hutch for his children aged 11 and nine in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Stockport magistrates court heard that O'Brien popped her head over the garden fence and screamed 'Stop making a f***ing noise, I can make a f***ing noise.'

She then threw several cricket stumps at the fence as Mr Oosthuizen's wife and daughter, aged 11, looked on 'terrified'.

O'Brien also painted black anti-burglary paint on the top of their shared fence to stop Mr Oosthuizen's children 'stealing toys out of her garden', the court heard.

She was convicted of racial aggravated harassment and threatening behaviour after a trial at Stockport magistrates court.

Mr Oosthuizen said the feud worsened the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffered from his service in the South African military and said his children were 'terrified' of their neighbour.

Mr Oosthuizen (pictured with his wife) said the feud worsened the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffered from his service in the South African military

But O'Brien claimed the victim had been harassing her by cutting her washing line and stealing her son's football.

The mother also claimed that Mr Oosthuizen retaliated in the row by calling her a 'f***ing bitch' and a 'benefit thief' and said she did not threaten to slit the family's throats.

The court heard the feud began after O'Brien moved into the street in 2012 and soon fell out with Mr Oosthuizen who had lived at the house next door with his wife Sarah and their children since 2005.

The court heard the feud began after O'Brien moved into the street in 2012 and soon fell out with Mr Oosthuizen who had lived at the house next door with his wife Sarah and their children since 2005

Prosecuting Amar Alyas said Mr Oosthuizen, who has a strong accent, has had a string of problems since O'Brien moved in and has even been called a 'sex offender'.

He said: 'Mr Oosthuizen was in his garden sawing a piece of wood with his 11-year-old daughter present.

'He then heard the suspect say: "Stop making a f***ing noise, I can make a f***ing noise" as well by throwing things against the fence. She then started throwing cricket wickets at the fence.

'Mr Oosthuizen will say that he tried to ignore the suspect, but she continued by shouting "stop stealing my kids' toys' and "go back to your own country." She then shouted: "I am going to slit your throat and slit your children's throats."'

Mr Oosthuizen, who is known as Taz, told the court he had a torrent of verbal abuse from his neighbour because of his accent

Prosecuting Amar Alyas said Mr Oosthuizen (right), who has a strong accent, has had a string of problems since O'Brien moved in and has even been called a 'sex offender'

Mr Oosthuizen soon called the police but O'Brien stated that she went out into her garden because he was making an irritating noise, "like he always does", the court heard.

But Mr Oosthuizen, who is known as Taz, told the court he had a torrent of verbal abuse from his neighbour because of his accent.

He said: 'She has called me a Paki and a foreigner - I think it might be because of my accent, I am foreign.

'She said 'I can make some f***ing noise too.' I went to the fence and looked over to see what was going on. I could see the cricket stumps hitting the fence, but I just ignored her. There was a lot of effing and blinding from her, so I just stepped back.

'I did say to her that she needs to get a job to keep herself busy. But she replied that she doesn't need to work because she is a kept woman.

'She then came over with black paint and started painting the top of the panels. She said that I need to stop stealing her kids' toys, but I don't know what she was talking about - my kids don't play with her kids.

Wife Sarah Oosthuizen (left and right) was in the kitchen cooking when she heard noises from outside that sounded like a football hitting the fence

'I told her to stop and she told me to mind my own f***ing business. My daughter was next to me and she was terrified.

'I suffer from PTSD from back in South Africa when I was in the military and it has been a problem for me.'

Wife Sarah Oosthuizen was in the kitchen cooking when she heard noises from outside that sounded like a football hitting the fence.

She said she told the court she was 'terrified' when O'Brien threatened to 'keep them awake tonight.'

She said: 'I heard her mumbling and swearing and then there was a comment about slitting throats. That I can remember because I was at the back door when she said it.

'Our 11-year-old was there at the time who was quite distressed. She did hear it because she repeated it.

'I was slightly scared by this comment, because my husband works nights. When somebody is threatening to slit yours and your children's throats, that is scary. So, I called the police.'

Mrs Oosthuizen (left) said she told the court she was 'terrified' when O'Brien threatened to 'keep them awake tonight'

Another neighbour said he witnessed O'Brien shouting and went out to investigate after she started painting the top of his fence.

He said: 'I heard something and heard the word "country" at the end. I only heard Taz say "get a job."

'She then started painting the top of my fence, so I went out and asked her what she was doing. She just said: "I can't hear you, I can't hear you." I was mad.'

But O'Brien denied shouting racial abuse at her neighbour and claims she was throwing things in her garden to 'make a tip'.

She said: 'I absolutely did not tell him to go back to his own country and I absolutely did not threaten to slit anybody's throat.

'I put the anti-vandal grease up because toys have been going missing from my garden. Then they decided to call the police. I know that he suffers from PTSD which is why I didn't call the police on him.'

'He's a liar and his wife is a liar. The other neighbour said that she doesn't really know what was said, so she has got nothing to do with it really.'

The court found O'Brien guilty of making a series of threats to Oosthuizen, his wife and daughter and will be sentenced on March 22.