Man Sentenced to Jail for Harassing Neighbour and Damaging Car

James Dickson, 39, residing at Crocus Way, Yaxley, Peterborough, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison. This follows his harassment of a neighbour and causing £15,000 in damage to her vehicle using a baseball bat. He was initially found guilty of criminal damage in May, at which point a restraining order was issued, preventing him from contacting his neighbour. Despite the order, Dickson persisted in verbally abusing his victim from May to July, communicating over a garden fence. During this period, he attributed his conviction to her and referred to her as a “low life”. Law enforcement officers subsequently apprehended him, and during a police interview, Dickson confessed to violating his restraining order. He was then granted bail, subject to conditions that included not approaching Larch Close in Peterborough. On August 9, Dickson again appeared outside the victim’s residence, where he shouted abuse. He proceeded to knock on her door and employed a brick to shatter her car’s lights, wing mirrors, and body panels. Officers arrested Dickson once more, and in a subsequent police interview, he stated there was “no excuse doing what he did,” further mentioning he had been intoxicated. At Peterborough Crown Court on November 27, Dickson received his custodial sentence after entering guilty pleas to two charges of harassment, one charge of breaching a restraining order, and one charge of criminal damage. PC Dan Green of Cambridgeshire Constabulary commented, stating: “Dickson pursued a sustained campaign of harassment towards his neighbour, which led to her feeling unsafe in her own home and put her through a great deal of stress. I am very pleased the seriousness of his offences have been recognised with this custodial sentence. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.”