An arrest warrant has been issued for a 67-year-old ‘neighbour from hell’ after he was convicted in his absence for breaching his latest restraining order for a second time.
Michael Cornwell, of Eves Orchard, Bures, near Sudbury, was described as a ‘nightmare’ by one of the three neighbours the order was put in place to protect.
Cornwell had elected for a trial before Ipswich magistrates to contest three charges of breaching his restraining order by swearing at Trevor and Linda Frost, and Frances Falconer.
The offence occurred on February 4 – only three days after Cornwell was convicted for breaking the order for the first time.
A month after that conviction by Ipswich magistrates for breaching his order by contacting Mrs Frost and Mrs Falconer, Cornwell was given a 12-week jail term suspended for 12 months. A new restraining order for two years was also made forbidding contact with four of his neighbours.
He was also ordered to pay Mrs Frost and Mrs Falconer £50 each in compensation.
Cornwell failed to appear in court for his latest trial, telling the court he was ill.
The magistrates went ahead in his absence and subsequently found him guilty.
After the case Mr Frost said: “We’ve had two-a-half years of hell. We tried to help the fella when he came there.”
Mrs Frost said her health has been affected by the harassment she and her husband have suffered.
Asked what it was like living opposite Cornwell Mrs Frost said: “He’s a complete nightmare.”
During the previous court case Mrs Falconer said she sometimes felt like a prisoner in her own home and she was frightened of Cornwell because he was so unpredictable.
After the latest hearing she said: “I’m angry. I’m furious. I’m no longer frightened. As the months and years have gone on I’m angry. It’s been a huge frustration and pressure.”
Mrs Falconer said part of her frustration is because the council and police have been unable to stop Cornwell behaving in the way he does.
Mrs Falconer has had to put a CCTV camera up to feel safer.
Cornwell has now breached restraining orders at two different properties on 23 occasions.
At his latest trial before Ipswich magistrates prosecutor Carol Hutson said Cornwell was given an 18-month restraining order on November 12, 2015, forbidding contact with the Frosts, and Mrs Falconer.
All four live in a U-shaped cul-de-sac of council-owned bungalows, with the Frosts living opposite Cornwell’s property. Mrs Falconer lives next door to the Frosts.
The court heard on February 4 while Mr and Mrs Frost were waiting to go for a walk with Mrs Falconer Cornwell jumped up and down so he was visible over his 6ft high garden fence, and swore at all three of them.
Cornwell was represented in his absence by his solicitor Jeremy Kendall.
Eves Orchard is the second property Cornwell has lived at where he has been embroiled in disputes with neighbours. The other was in Monks Eleigh.
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