A couple have been accused of using their daughter's "deafening" drumming as a "weapon" against them in a bitter neighbour dispute.
The row erupted between churchgoers Robert Flach and his wife Helena and their neighbour Celia Tan after she ripped out their gutter following a dispute over the position of a boundary between their properties.
In 2019, Tan removed the gutter after claiming it overhung the border between their homes in Ruislip, North West London.
She alleged that it crossed their boundary by a matter of "inches" and was leaking water on to her property.
A couple have been accused of using their daughter's "deafening" drumming as a "weapon" against them in a bitter neighbour dispute (stock image)
Getty
However, the Flachs claimed the boundary line is five inches beyond the wall separating their homes - meaning the guttering is on their land.
They are now suing Tan for trespass and the cost of replacing the lost guttering.
In response, the translator is counter-suing as she alleges that the Flach couple encouraged their daughter Maria to play the drums at a "deafening" volume while they attended church on Sunday mornings.
As the case - being heard at Central London County Court - began, Judge Alan Saggerson warned that whoever loses the case could be "pouring £150,000 down the drain" in legal costs.
The court heard that the Flachs' key concern was the position of the boundary between the two properties, while Tan claims it runs through the middle of the flank wall of their garage extension.
Tan suggested that guttering on the garage's flank wall was positioned so it allowed rainwater to fall on her land.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The neighbours are also arguing over fences in the front and rear garden.
According to the Flachs' barrister Adam Swirsky, Tan has "gradually over time moved your boundaries at the front and at the back further over into the Flachs' property" - a claim she denied.The Flachs are suing Tan for trespass and for the £1,880 cost of replacing the lost guttering.
Their 53-year-old neighbour is counter-suing for £85,000 in compensate for an alleged reduction in value of her home caused by trespass, encroachment and damage.
In addition, she is also seeking an injunction banning the Flachs from placing "intrusive CCTV" near her home.
In 2019, Tan removed the gutter after claiming it overhung the border between their homes in Ruislip, west London
Getty
The court heard Tan's daughter Rebecca Edge give evidence that the Flachs would leave their daughter at home playing the drums on Sunday mornings.
Helena Flach replied: "Maria was at the local school where she was playing drums. She was sitting her grade five exams and needed practice time."
Tan allegedly banged on the walls with "spades and other implements" which resulted in the Flachs getting rid of the drum kit.
However, Tan and her daughter denied they did bang on the walls.
The Flachs' barrister told the court that Tan has previously argued with the couple and other neighbours and was handed a criminal behaviour order after being convicted of harassment following a trial in February 2016.
She said the claims led to the "unjustified" CBO after Tan was accused of consistently calling traffic wardens to complain about parking.