Man jailed for harassing neighbour during row over doorbell security camera at Wortley Heights tower block in Leeds

Anthony Roberts was locked up for 16 months over the the threats he made towards his neighbour at Wortley Heights in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Roberts subjected the man to a campaign of harassment as he was angry about him having a doorbell camera which covered the entrance to the defendant's flat.

Anna Bond, prosecuting, said the victim is disabled and uses a mobility scooter.

Roberts stood outside the victim's door and shouted homophobic abuse at him at 5.30am on January 3 this year.

The victim was in bed at the time but used a mobile phone app which showed Robert's standing outside his home shouting threats.

Roberts also threatened to kick down the door.

Roberts was filmed touching the doorbell outside the victim's home on January 30.

On February 8 he nailed a bed sheet to a communal door to screen himself from the camera.

He was then heard to say: "You can't see me now. If I catch you outside you are going to get it."

The victim provided a statement to the court describing how he felt depressed and upset by Robert's behaviour and feared being attacked by him.

He added that the harassment had affected his mental health.

The court heard stolen bicycles had been found inside Roberts' flat by police officers on three occasions between January and March this year.

The bicycles had been taken during a series of thefts from students in the Woodhouse area of Leeds between November 2019 and January 2020.

Gerald Hendron, mitigating, said Roberts committed the offences against his neighbour as he was upset about the security camera covering his flat.

He said: "He tried to contact the complainant about the camera. The way he went about it was wholly irresponsible and he feels very badly about the way he behaved."

Mr Hendron said Roberts would lose his council flat if he received an immediate prison sentence longer than six months.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC told the defendant: "I am afraid I can't deal with this in any other way than immediate custody.

"I would be failing in my duty if I were to do so.

"This was aggravated by homophobic comments."