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This astonishing footage shows how a sick neighbour defecated on a family's doorstep in the dead of night as part of a twisted hate campaign.

Filthy Damian Ayles repeated the dirty deed four times before he was caught on CCTV by his tormented victims.

A court heard the 23 year-old also shoved soiled tissues through their letterbox and smeared excrement over their cars.

The unnamed family, who have children, suffered stress and anxiety and were left feeling unsafe in their home and unable to sleep properly.

They told police they were "tormented" as to why Ayles would want to hurt them in such a way.

(Image: SWNS)

Magistrates were told that Ayles struck first last April as he launched his despicable and unexplained vendetta against the family.

They found faeces on their doorstep early one morning but cleaned up the mess and did not go to police at that stage.

But Debbie Jones, prosecuting, said the mystery fouler returned five months later in September.

She said the family found more poo outside their front door on September 18 and 19 and decided to rig up a security camera.

It caught Ayles carrying out the disgusting act in the middle of the night on September 29.

Ms Jones said: "The defendant can be seen at 3.30am on September 29 pulling down his trousers, moving to the squat position and having a poo.

(Image: SWNS)

"He then wipes himself and puts it (the dirty tissue) in the letterbox and smears some of the faeces on their vehicle."

Mrs Jones said Ayles admitted committing the dirty deed after police matched his DNA was some of the poo - but was too embarrassed to watch the footage of himself.

He looked down at the floor with his hand over his mouth as the images were shown at Medway Magistrates court and his mother in the public gallery looked away.

Ayles, of Twydall, Kent pleaded guilty to harassment without violence and was given a two-year restraining order preventing him from going near the family.

He was also given a 12-month community order, told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay the family £350 in compensation with £85 court costs.

Chair of the bench Mandy Samrai said: "This was a very serious matter."

After the case a spokesman for the family said: "I hope that the community service is cleaning up dog poo from children's playing parks."

Wayne Crowhurst, defending, said Ayles had autism and had the mental age of a 13 year-old.

He said: "He should not have done what he done and this is the end of the matter now, he wants to move on."