A couple - who were banned from looking at their neighbour's home - are celebrating after harassment charges against them were dropped following an 11-year dispute.
Nigel and Sheila Jacklin, from Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where they were told they were "free to go" after the prosecution failed to offer evidence against them.
The couple had been accused of "chanting, staring and sticking their fingers up" at their neighbour, Dr Stephane Duckett, and his partner from a nearby beach.
However, the couple claim that the chanting and finger movements were part of Hindu prayers and Sanskrit mantras.
A couple - who were banned from looking at their neighbour's home - are celebrating after harassment charges against them were dropped following an 11-year dispute (stock image)Getty/PANigel, 62, was also charged with assaulting a female friend of their neighbours during a separate incident.
The dispute between the Jacklins and their neighbours began in 2013 when Duckett and his partner, Norinne Betjemann, purchased a disused glass glazing workshop opposite the Jacklins' home.
The couple set about converting it into a £400,000 holiday home, which sparked complaints from the Jacklins about noisy builders, verbal abuse, and light pollution.
Rother District Council issued them a "community protection warning letter" and imposed an "exclusion zone" around Duckett and Betjemann's property.
The conflict escalated over the years, with the Jacklins being investigated multiple times.
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Nigel claimed: "We've been investigated 12 times with no action taken against us in any case. That's not a series of police mistakes – that is abuse of police power."
The recent developments in the case came to a head when the Jacklins were charged with harassment earlier this year.
Sheila claimed that her chanting and finger movements were part of her Hindu prayers and Sanskrit mantras.
Nigel also faced an assault charge, which he denied.
During their court appearance, the couple pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Rother District Council issued them a "community protection warning letter" and imposed an "exclusion zone" around Duckett and Betjemann's property
PAThe Crown Prosecution Service requested an adjournment, which was refused by the court.
As a result, no evidence was offered by the prosecution, leading to all charges being dropped.
This outcome marked a significant turn in the long-standing dispute, which had seen the Jacklins subjected to multiple investigations.
Nigel, a councillor, is now calling for Sussex Police to take action against his neighbours, whom he accuses of harassment and making false allegations.
He said: "It is a spectacular misuse of police time. We think it's probably an abuse of police power."
The father-of-two added: "I stood in the general election and one of the reasons I decided to do so is because the police investigated us and not our neighbours. We should stand against abuse of power."
