A 66-year-old man has been jailed after threatening an estate agent with a paving slab and causing misery for his neighbours.
Michael Beckett was sentenced to 10 months in prison following a series of incidents in Norwich.
The court heard he had warned the estate agent "you need a good slap around the head" before picking up a concrete block.
This was the latest in a pattern of "unpredictable" behaviour that has plagued local residents.
Beckett appeared Norwich Magistrates' Court
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His harassment included throwing objects, shouting abuse and posting items through letterboxes.
Norwich Magistrates' Court was told the estate agent had been trying to help Beckett sell his house "much to the relief of his neighbours" when the confrontation occurred, reports the Eastern Daily Press.
The incident with the estate agent took place on January 16 during a confrontation at his Nile Street property. Prosecutor Josephine Jones told the court that after the incident, Beckett later informed police that "she drove me to it".
He also made misogynistic comments to officers, stating that "all men want is a peaceful life, but women won't give it to them."
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The incident took place in Nile Street in Norwich
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Beckett also admitted breaching a restraining order that had been imposed in June 2024. This restraining order had been put in place following previous offences against local residents.
The court was told his criminal behaviour began relatively recently. He had no previous convictions until March last year when a neighbour dispute escalated.
Since then, his behaviour has caused increasing concern among those living nearby.
The repeated nature of his offences showed a pattern of disregard for court orders and the wellbeing of his neighbours.
Richard Mann, mitigating, described the situation as "rather sad".
"He is no longer working and is incredibly bored as he has no friends which has affected his mental health and seen him drinking," Mann told the court.
Despite being 66 years old, Beckett had led a law-abiding life until recently. His defence highlighted how his circumstances had deteriorated rapidly over a short period. Magistrates said they had "no choice" but to jail him for 44 weeks due to his repeated breaches of court orders.
They also extended his restraining order for five years, which will now run until June 2029.
