A PENSIONER who conducted a campaign of harassment against his neighbours has been given a last chance to avoid a prison sentence.

Richard Dawe twice breached a court anti-social order by imitating the sound of a peacock and using verbal abuse.

After a jury convicted him three months ago, he also admitted sending a circular to neighbours complaining about their alleged behaviour on Castlemorton Common, near Malvern.

Recorder Michael Burrows told Dawe he was responsible for a campaign of "threats, abuse and violence" and deserved to go to jail.

But he had kept out of trouble since the trial, his wife had suffered a broken arm in a fall, and the defendant had vowed the dispute was at an end.

The recorder deferred sentence until April next year but warned if the 66-year-old upset neighbours again, prison would follow.

If there were no further problems, he would consider a non-custodial sentence.

Dawe, of Hollybed Street, Castlemorton, wept in the dock at Worcester Crown Court as he was told he could return home for Christmas after being barred from living there since the verdicts.

Threatening

The court was told of six previous convictions, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Displaying threatening signs, causing harassment, common assault, and sending malicious mail were also on his record.

Magistrates imposed a 25-year anti-social behaviour order on Dawe, but it was reduced to five years on appeal.

The jury heard the pensioner annoyed parish councillor Shirley Schooling by making peacock noises near her home.

She tried to drown it out with the radio or her vacuum cleaner.

Paul Clifton gave evidence he was herded like a sheep by Dawe's dogs, then followed and subjected to foul abuse.

Dawe, cleared of two other nuisance charges, claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy to get him out of an area in which he had lived for 60 years.

Defence counsel Antonie Muller said a psychiatric report showed he had suffered significant health problems, which had affected his outlook on life.

He quickly lost his temper when he perceived he had been wronged.

"He does have problems foreseeing the deep waters he is heading for by some of the headstrong actions he takes," he said.

"It goes back to local politics on the parish council. But the whole council resigned and he now has a councillor he has faith in. He perceives the battle is won."

Mr Muller said Dawe - chairman of the Hollybed Commoners Association - now believed the common, for which he had great affection, was being cared for.

While on remand away from the area, Dawe had helped repair flood barriers by filling sandbags.

He planned to put posters on his gates telling people to leave him alone.