A MAN has been prosecuted for annoying his neighbours by playing loud music.

And Michael Hunter’s love of loud sounds has also cost him dearly – he has forfeited his computer and DVD equipment and a collection of CDs.

Hunter, of Halifax Road, Birchencliffe, Huddersfield, was prosecuted by Kirklees Council at Huddersfield Magistrates Court.

Hunter pleaded guilty to breaching a noise abatement notice. He was fined £160 and ordered to pay costs of £100. He also forfeited his sound equipment which included a large number of CDs, a DVD player, a number of speakers and a computer monitor, all of which had been seized by Kirklees Environmental Services in November.

The prosecution was welcomed by councillors who vowed to continue taking action over noise nuisances.

The court was told that following complaints by neighbours and a visit by a council officer in January last year, Hunter was written to about the consequences of playing loud music.

Despite this the noise nuisance complaints continued and he was served with a noise abatement notice in May which also warned that his sound equipment would be seized if the problem continued.

In November, following more complaints, officers went to the house and heard Hunter playing music loudly and confiscated the equipment.

Clr David Hall, Kirklees Cabinet member for Pollution and Noise Control, said: “Causing upset and stress to neighbours by persistently playing loud music is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

“The offence, under the Environmental Protection Act, could land the offender

with a fine of up to £5,000 as well as the forfeit of expensive equipment as has happened in this case.

“Environmental Services officers will do their best to work with residents to settle these noise disputes amicably, but we will prosecute if people will not co-operate. This case should warn others that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.”