A 52-year-old woman has left her neighbours in "constant fear" after she shouted and banged on the walls over an 18-month period.
Nina Shim, of Ridge Close, Barlaston, had been suffering from bereavement during the lockdown, which made her act "out of character", Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.
Shim has issued an apology to her neighbours, including their children, claiming she couldn’t believe how she had acted during the period, Stoke-on-TrentLive reports.
The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and avoided jail.
A 52-year-old woman has left her neighbours in 'constant fear' after she shouted and banged on the walls over an 18-month period
PAThe harassment began in December 2023 and ended in June 2024, Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told the court.
She added: “The family were distressed at home which lasted for 18 months, and they were living in constant fear.
"They had to install CCTV, soundproofing, install a side gate, move the children’s bedroom and one of the children had to stay with other relatives for a while.”
Shim has been receiving medication and mental health treatment, the court heard.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Shim, of Ridge Close, Barlaston, has issued an apology to her neighbours
Kelly Cyples, mitigating, said: “Ms Shim suffers with her mental health.
"A referral was made to a psychologist to help her through bereavement - she’s had a significant amount in her life - and unfortunately the bereavements came up all in one go which coincided with the lockdown.
"She had cared for her father-in-law for two years in the house where she still resides and he passed away four weeks before lockdown.
"She also lost her husband and other family members, and she suffered feelings of isolation and loneliness.
"Her son couldn’t deal with her mental health and left home also, which added to her exasperation."
She added: “There has been no offending since this offence last year. Things have been extremely positive, the [mental health] team here talks extremely highly of her engagement - at first she wasn’t entirely convinced that she needed support but now she sees the benefits and presents to this court as a very different person to the woman I met last year.“
"There has been no contact with the neighbours, and the neighbours on the other side have had no complaints.
"She lives a quiet life. She lives in close proximity with the neighbours which means there could be problems with cutting the hedges, or perhaps if post gets posted through the wrong address.
"There may be a need at some point for communication and we wouldn’t want to set Ms Shim up to fail.
“She would like to say sorry to the neighbours and explain her mental health at the time, she wasn't targeting them specifically she was having a mental breakdown at the time.
"She would like to apologise, perhaps in a letter, the only reason she hasn't done so yet is because she’s not allowed to contact them.”
Judge Richard McConaghy sentenced Shim to a community order that included 50 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Nina Shim is from Stoke-on-Trent
Wikimedia CommonsIn addition, a restraining order was put in place to prevent her from contacting the neighbours.
The Judge told the defendant: “There was verbal abuse directed towards them which made their lives unliveable for a period of time.
"They had children living in their house and all they could hear was abuse and banging on the walls coming from you.
"I know you were going through the midst of a mental health crisis at the time. I hope you understand that the crisis was caused by you stopping your medications.
"I know you’ve re-engaged with your medications and I’m pleased to hear your behaviour towards your neighbour has stopped.
“That doesn't take away the impact on them and the children in their house. I take the view this is an exceptional case and I can step away from a custodial threshold, but your offending is so serious a community order is required.”
