Grandfather denies breaking Asbo

From: BBC News, UK - Oct 19, 2004

A great-grandfather has denied breaking an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

Alexander Muat, 88, of Huyton, Merseyside, is believed to be the oldest man in the UK to be made the subject of an Asbo.

He told Liverpool Crown Court he denied harassing neighbours Alison and Derek Fowler, who say he threatened them and flashed lights into their home.

He said he was the victim of harassment and was too intelligent to break the Asbo and risk jail.

The Fowlers have told the court that the retired RAF engineer threatened them by making cutting gestures across his cheeks.

They had been flashing their lights on and off and making the sign of the cross at me, so I was doing the same back Alexander Muat They also say he covered his bin in grease so they could not move it when it blocked the entrance to their driveway.

Mr Muat, who is profoundly deaf, told the court: "I am sure I am the victim of harassment.

"I was not happy about the anti-social behaviour order, but I am intelligent enough not to break it and go to jail."

He added that a video which appeared to show him flashing a light on and off and making the sign of the cross was actually him mimicking the actions of his neighbours.

Swearing and shouting

He said: "During the whole episode I was copying them, I was aping them.

"They had been flashing their lights on and off and making the sign of the cross at me so I was doing the same back."

Mr Muat was made subject to the order in July 2003 and is banned from making excessive noise by banging doors and bin lids, filming his neighbours, swearing and shouting at them and driving his car into other people's driveways.

© BBC MMIV