A JUDGE launched a scathing attack on a homeowner who made his neighbours’ lives a ‘nightmare’ by playing loud recordings of monkey and chicken noises to wake them in the early hours.

Ian Wheatcroft, 44, subjected his neighbours to a campaign of harassment for more than two years, recording them using CCTV cameras and putting dog faeces in their garden.

Wheatcroft set off alarms and played loud animal noises in the early hours to wake Clive and Alice Jones, who lived in the neighbouring £300k semi-detached house.

Cruise firm director Mr Jones and his wife, who shared a drive with Wheatcroft outside their homes in Totton, felt they couldn’t use their garden as his cameras were pointed at it.

Wheatcroft also deliberately used an angle grinder just inches from Mr Jones’ car and, when they were forced to give up their cat, he taunted them by putting up a poster of a cartoon cat with its middle finger up.

At Southampton Magistrates’ Court District Judge Anthony Callaway launched an attack on Wheatcroft, who denied harassment but was convicted after a four-day trial.

He told Wheatcroft he was a ‘well-practised liar’ who was ‘staggeringly arrogant’.

The judge said: “Your arrogance is quite staggering, quite staggering indeed.

“First of all, the length of time this harassment has elapsed is remarkable, this is not a one off – it’s a course of control.”

He added: “You have disturbed their lives and at times made living there a horrible experience.

“This was no ordinary neighbourly dispute, this was a serious course of harassment – it had a big impact on them and the value of their home.

"Nobody can be punished for contesting claims in court as everyone has the right to a fair trial, but during the course of this trial I’ve noticed a complete absence of remorse from you.

“After listening to you it is easy to tell you are a well-practised liar.”

Wheatcroft was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years, fined of £1,870, and a three-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the Jones.

The court heard Wheatcroft, who must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, has moved into his mother’s house with his partner Amanda and put his home up for sale.

Prosecutor Charles Nightingale told the court that since the start of the trial Wheatcroft has harassed the Jones on three more occasions.

He said: “On August 22, Mr Jones was on his driveway and Mr Wheatcroft gave him the middle finger.

“On September 4, Mr and Mrs Jones were disturbed by loud bass noise vibrations from their neighbour’s house.”

He added that on another occasion another family member was shown the middle finger by Wheatcroft.

Defending Wheatcroft, who is due to start work as a fundraiser, Keely Harvey said: “He will not return to the address.

"He’s been trying to show to the court this is the end of it and that he’s got a new start.”

Aftewards, Mr Jones, 47, said: “The harassment was a living nightmare, now we can get on with our lives.

"We are relieved he’s moving, it’s a great feeling.”