A MAN accused of harassing his neighbours which included putting up a “vulgar” poster of a cat has claimed it was there to scare away birds.

Ian Wheatcroft is accused of harassing his neighbours by playing loud noises, putting a fence up in their garden, and leaving dog urine there.

Southampton Magistrates Court heard how Wheatcroft also set up three CCTV cameras which captured the garden of his neighbour’s property in The Mallards in Totton, which they claim forced them to avoid using it.

The 44-year-old also allegedly put up a poster with an image of a cat making an obscene gesture in view of their garden to “taunt” them after they were forced to give up their pet.

The court heard Wheatcroft put dog urine and faeces in his neighbours’ garden and even fired up a garden incinerator on his balcony.

Wheatcroft denies harassment without violence and common assault. Yesterday he took the stand in his own defence and was questioned by prosecutor Charles Nightingale about the cat poster.

Mr Nightingale said: “You were aware that the Jones family found the appearance and position of that poster extremely offensive.

Wheatcroft replied that it was a “comic” picture and said: “It was up six months before anything was said to us, it was put up to scare away birds.

The court heard how a police officer had emailed Wheatcroft asking him to remove the poster of the cat as it was “far from appropriate”.

The court also heard how Wheatcroft said he was frightened of the Jones family.

Giving evidence, Wheatcroft’s partner Amanda Irwin told the court how neighbour Clive Jones allegedly warned he would make her and Wheatcroft’s life a “living hell”. She said that the Jones family “blanked” her when she asked them to keep the noise down during the day, as she works long hours as a nurse doing day and night shifts.

She said she felt frightened of the Jones family and felt uncomfortable being on her balcony and being outside and felt the Jones family were “staring” at her.

The case has been adjourned until September 7.