A company director who waged a hate campaign against one of his neighbours has destroyed his own life with the shame brought through his conviction, a court heard.

Jeremy Hoyle, a 43-year-old father-of-two, was convicted earlier this month following a trial of harassment during April last year and January and two charges of criminal damage involving Chris and Melissa O’Brien’s cars.

Their cars were damaged at Holmebank Mews, Brockholes, Holmfirth.

Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard the defendant had also dug dirt on Mr O’Brien after using the expertise of a former policeman.

The unnamed friend had discovered that Neighbourhood Watch chief Mr O’Brien had previous convictions for theft and attempted theft in the mid 1990s and burglary in 2004.

Crucially these were ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and should never have been disclosed but Hoyle had sent a malicious letter outlining the previous convictions.

The court heard that the campaign had begun following a “trivial” row over parking but had got “completely out of hand” due to Hoyle’’s obsessive temperament.

And in a bizarre twist the court heard the defendant also had two previous convictions, one as a juvenile for shoplifting and criminal damage.

Phil Hanson for the Probation Service said the defendant, who moved to Kaye Lane, Almondbury, had paid very heavily for it with coverage in the local press and six national papers.

“It has been a very brutal form of punishment.”

He added that such was the opprobrium that he had brought upon himself and his family that he would have to move away from Kirklees.

In mitigation, Neil Murphy, said: “It has grown completely out of hand.

“Someone should have taken him down the pub or into a darkened room and said: ‘Get a grip. Walk away from this situation.’

“The public perception in the Huddersfield Examiner has caused him to be cast as the ‘Neighbour from Hell’.”

And he said his conviction had not done his company’s business any favours with clients ringing up and asking if it is “the same Jeremy Hoyle.”

Sentencing him District Judge Michael Fanning said the defendant had taken “deliberate steps” to harm Mr O’Brien’s reputation in the community, as a result of which he has clearly suffered.

“It is such an extraordinary over-reaction to a petty spat.

“It is only now in the complete light of day that you have come to your senses.”

Hoyle was told to pay more than £3,400 within 14 days including a £1,400 fine and £1,158 in compensation.

He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.