A COLCHESTER man has had hundreds of records and music equipment seized after continually bombarding neighbours with anti-social noise.

Elliot Furniss

A COLCHESTER man has had hundreds of records and music equipment seized after continually bombarding neighbours with anti-social noise.

Paul Joyner, 36, of Whybrews in Compton Road, who is believed to be a DJ, ignored warnings from the borough council that the music coming from his property was too loud and affecting other residents in the terrace where he lived.

Yesterday, council and police officers turned up on his doorstep with a court warrant and seized several boxes of records, an organ, keyboard, mixing desk and a number of speakers.

Mr Joyner was first warned about his loud music in April and despite several return visits and letters from the environmental control team, he continued to play music so loud it would shake pictures on neighbours' walls.

Beverly Jones, the council's environmental control manager, said that it was not common for the team to take such action, but this was a particularly serious case.

She said: “We first received a complaint from a neighbour about noise nuisance on April 18. It's virtually every day he is making this noise.”

A noise abatement notice was served on June 9 but neighbours reported that the problem was still going on and despite a further visit over the weekend, there was no change.

Mrs Jones added: “After our officers left, he actually turned it up again, so we got a warrant on Monday afternoon to seize the equipment.

“This isn't something we do lightly. We probably only do a handful a year and we take everything that can be used to make noise.”

When the officers knocked on the front door, Mr Joyner told them it was “a bit short notice” and “a bit unfair” for them to execute the warrant, but eventually let them in.

He was later led outside by police officers and arrested for a breach of the peace.

Louise Parkin, the environmental control case officer who led the operation, said a prosecution file would now be prepared and if a summons is issued within 28 days then a court date will be set.

She said: “It was very successful - we filled up our lorry. We now hope that the neighbours can have a peaceful night's sleep.”

Last night a police spokesman confirmed that a 36-year-old man from Colchester was arrested in Compton Road on suspicion of criminal damage and was being held in custody.

Mr Joyner declined to comment.