Neighbour from hell terrorised couple by banging on door and threatening to kill

13 March 2024 , 22:25

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The defendant, who now identifies as Susan Hope, made violent threats to the couple, a court heard (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd nort)

A couple were left living in fear after their neighbour aggressively banged on their front door for days on end - and even threatened to kill one of them.

The victims, who had lived peacefully in their Newcastle home for around 30 years, became neighbours to the defendant who, a court heard, now identifies as Susan Hope. The woman welcomed the defendant and was initially very accommodating, letting them charge their phone and offering them a cup of tea during a power cut.

But, Rachel Glover, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "This changed when the defendant began knocking on their door asking for her phone to be charged and for phone calls to be made on her behalf. (The woman) said she tried to be a good neighbour but it got too much and she began to say no and asked her to stop knocking on her door. The defendant became aggressive and shouted in her face, saying 'I will remember this'. The defendant was away from home between February and June, when she returned.”

Within two days, on June 15, the defendant began banging on the door again, claiming they had been locked out. The woman said she did not want anything more to do with her. A few days later, on June 23, the banging returned, amid claims the defendant had lost their keys. The woman reported that the defendant stood across the road staring at her when she went to a fish and chip shop on June 29. Miss Glover said: "She found her very intimidating. She was terrified and returned home shaking."

The woman reported shouting heard from the defendant at around 9am on July 1, which lasted for most of the morning. At lunchtime, the shouting turned into abuse, as well as threats to kill her and "punch her face in". Miss Glover said: "She could see the defendant standing at her front window with the window open, shouting at her. (The victim) was frightened, crying and shaking and her husband called the police."

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Newcastle Crown Court was told how the defendant knocked on their neighbours door 'at all hours' (NCJ Media)

Hope, 51, of Walpole Street, Walkergate, Newcastle, was arrested and assaulted a police officer at the police station - but was released on bail with conditions not to contact the victims. But the defendant knocked on their door again on July 12 before being told to leave. Knocking continued on July 24, 27 and 29, where the neighbours received verbal abuse. At one point, the husband had to drive his wife around to calm her down, and after fitting a ring doorbell, the pair captured further aggressive banging and shouting by the defendant on August 3.

Speaking about the woman's victim impact statement, Miss Glover said: "She is absolutely terrified of the defendant. It's causing her distress all the time. She's terrified of what they are capable of doing. It frightens her. She's lived there more than 30 years with no issues but no longer feels safe and doesn't want to live there anymore."

Referring to a victim impact statement by the man, Miss Glover said: "It has made him feel anxious in his own home. He's worried for his wife because of the threats made towards her. He has taken time off work. His wife doesn't like to be in the address on her own and he is constantly worried about what will happen."

Hope, who failed to attend court for the sentencing hearing, pleaded guilty to harassment putting a person in fear of violence and assaulting an emergency worker. Hope was jailed for 41 weeks and given a restraining order not to contact the victims. Shada Mellor, defending, said the defendant has served the equivalent of a 14 month prison sentence on remand and had been previously detained under the Mental Health Act. The court also heard they have autism and bipolar disorder.

Zahra Khaliq