'Neighbours from hell' warned
2010-09-02 23:21
Jeanne-Marié Versluis, Beeld
Pretoria - A Pretoria North couple have each been sentenced to 30 days in prison, suspended for three years, after they disregarded a court order forbidding them from being a nuisance to their neighbours.
Acting Judge James Goodey found Abel and Liesl Prinsloo guilty of contempt of court in the North Gauteng High Court this week.
According to the court documents of Benjamin Petrus Viviers, a pensioner from West Street, Pretoria North, and his wife Catharina Johanna, they obtained the court order because the Prinsloos' behaviour was "a serious nuisance".
Among other things, the Prinsloos ran a panel beating business and tow-in service from their house, the Viviers' documents said.
The court order dated August 1 2008 forbids the Prinsloos from swearing at, screaming at, insulting, intimidating or harassing the Viviers couple or their family and visitors. It also forbids them from entering or damaging the Viviers' property and being a nuisance.
Revving and spinning
However, the Prinsloos displayed a "continuous disregard" for the order, said the Viviers.
From August 14 to September 8 2008, "no less than 18 pertinent transgressions were documented by the applicants", such as:
* Mrs Prinsloo "spinning her car's wheels next to me and next to my home when she notices us on the premises.
* Children kicking a rugby ball into the electric fence.
* Racing off with the tow-in vehicle. Vehicle's scanner radio broadcasts messages the entire afternoon behind the house.
* Child batting rocks against the electric fencing with a cricket bat, which causes a severe nuisance.
* Tow-in vehicle is "revved" all the time.
According to Viviers, he has reported these incidents to the police, but he was told that the prosecutor refuses to press charges.
The Prinsloos' behaviour "violates (the Viviers') use and enjoyment of (their) property".
Mr Prinsloo denied in a statement that he, his wife or her children have ever sworn at, screamed at, insulted, intimidated or harassed them, or entered or damaged their property.
He also denied that his wife had "spun" her wheels.
There is a "gravel driveway" to his house, and the Viviers might be confusing the noise of a car's wheels on the gravel with "spinning wheels".
Prinsloo denied the transgressions listed by the Viviers couple.