Neighbour from hell sentenced for fat shaming homeowner and calling her a 'waste of a human life'

He had been embroiled in an ongoing neighbour row for two years, which culminated in him offending over an eight day period in June last year, South Magistrates’ Court heard.

Mr Hudson and his neighbour encountered one another often in the communal hallway, Prosecutor Peter Kelly said.

The offending happened daily between June 23-30, around 4:30pm when Mr Hudson returned home from work.

Mr Kelly said: “On June 23, the defendant came into the shared hallway and accused the victim of stealing his post.

"The following day he complained of his neighbour turning his power off.

“On June 25, Hudson shouted: ‘why has she been in my flat watching my TV?’

“He was verbally abusive the next day and made chimpanzee noises through the door.”

The court was told the defendant verbally abused his neighbour, telling her she should “get a job or get a life” and making repeated insults about her weight.

He described her as a burden on society and a “waste of human life” and at one point claimed he could turn off her water supply.

He also mocked her mental health, comparing her to “a box of frogs”.

Mr Kelly said Mr Hudson’s tirade went beyond verbal attacks as he also played music loudly, which caused the victim upset.

The harassment reached its peak, the court heard, with Mr Hudson reportedly saying it smells “a bit funky” in the hallway and calling the victim a “muppet”.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant explained she felt she was deliberately targeted because of her health conditions, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

She told police the ongoing behaviour had significantly worsened her health, leaving her constantly anxious and unable to sleep properly since March 2023.

She said she now lives in fear, unsure of what Hudson might do next, and no longer feels safe in her own home.

The prolonged stress had damaged her confidence, increased her anxiety, and caused her to withdraw from social life altogether.

During a police interview, Hudson admitted harassing the woman but denied that his comments amounted to hate-related abuse.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment without violence. The court was told he had no previous criminal record.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order requiring Hudson to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

An 18-month restraining order was also granted, preventing him from contacting or approaching the victim in any way.

He was additionally ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.