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York noisy neighbour fined after blasting out music so loud it made nearby homes vibrate

York council enforcement officers and police remove the noisy equipment earlier this year. Photograph: City of York Council
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A woman who created a nightmare for her neighbours by blasting out music from her York flat has been fined.

Numerous complaints were lodged against Karen Parker, 60, of Thoresby Road, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

In response, City of York Council officers served her with a noise abatement notice on 2 March 2021.

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This notice required that she stopped playing her music so loud that it was causing a nuisance to her neighbours.

Parker ignored this – and the complaints continued. Returning on two occasions in June 2021, council officers heard loud music which breached the noise abatement order. The music was so loud, it could clearly be identified from a neighbouring property and caused the neighbour’s floor to vibrate.

In July, officers returned with police and a warrant, seizing the stereo that was causing the noise problem.

Noise ‘not acceptable’

York Magistrates’ Court. Photograph: Richard McDougall

At York Magistrates’ Court, Parker pleaded guilty to two offences of breaching a noise abatement in June 2021.

In mitigation, Parker told the court that she had not lived in a flat before and didn’t realise how much sound travelled.

Magistrates observed that there had been lots of complaints made against her, and visits made by the council to her property, before June 2021.

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They ordered her to pay £300 legal costs and a £22 court surcharge, and gave her a 12-month conditional discharge.

It means if found guilty of any criminal offence in the next 12 months Parker may be re-sentenced in relation to the two offences.

The court also issued a forfeiture order to the council not to return the stereo used to create the noise nuisance.

Cllr Denise Craghill, executive member for housing and safer communities, said: “Noise nuisance is antisocial and it is not acceptable. People need to consider their behaviour and its implications on neighbours and act reasonably.

“This nuisance impacted on neighbours going about their normal day to day activities or sleeping at night.

“When council officers advise residents about excessive noise and it doesn’t stop, we will serve noise abatement notices. They are a warning that if the noise does not stop, prosecution is possible.”

You can find out more about how to make a noise complaint to City of York Council here.