Banned: Flashing '˜psycho' neighbour of Chop Gate can never return home

Mandy Dunford, 55, outside Teesside Crown Court after she won a court battle preventing neighbour Kenneth Ward, 69, who exposed himself to her for years from moving back to their rural community when he is released from prison.

Mandy Dunford, 55, had packed her bags and was ready to leave her cottage in Chop Gate, North Yorkshire, if Kenneth Ward, 69, had been allowed to move back to his ramshackle property next door.

The military expert was jailed for five years in 2011 for possessing a cache of arms, including a loaded Luger pistol.

He had admitted exposing himself to Miss Dunford, who has waived her right to anonymity, several times a week over a period of years in a bid to drive her out of her home.

Kenneth Ward, 64, who was jailed for five years for possessing a cache of arms, including a loaded Luger pistol.

He would often hide in bushes before performing a sex act in front of her, and even climbed a ladder to expose himself to her over a garden wall.

He was due to be released from prison next week.

North Yorkshire Police made an application at Teesside Crown Court to amend a Sexual Offence Prevention Order which now excludes him from an area roughly five miles around Chop Gate - effectively making him homeless.

Judge Peter Armstrong heard how Ward had breached conditions of his licence when he was released having served half his sentence, leading him to be returned to prison.

While on licence he appeared in Channel 5 show The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door in which he said he would continue to upset Miss Dunford by making her think he was going to return to his rented home, where his ancestors have lived since 1640.

Judge Armstrong said: “I have no confidence if he was able to return he would behave in such a way as to enable Miss Mandy Dunford to live peacefully and calmly in her home.”

Miss Dunford wept at the outcome of the case, having held her head in her hands for much of the proceedings.

Ward, who was brought from prison for the case, did not visibly react.

He was excluded from the area around Chop Gate and must wear an electronic tag, both for a period of 10 years.

He will be allowed back, after giving 72 hours notice, to remove his collection of military aircraft from the property.

Miss Dunford, a former police officer, said outside court: “I’m absolutely elated at today’s result.

“Sitting in court was unbearable, it was horrible, it was make or break.

“I can now have the life I wanted, doing what I want.

“My house was absolutely cleared and that was heart-breaking, now it can all go back.”

She said her harassment ordeal lasted for years, and Ward would lie in wait for her in a holly bush waiting to lock eyes with her and expose himself to her.

“He was a total psycho,” she said. “He hunted me down, day after day.”

She thanked her Tory MP Rishi Sunak, who represents Richmond, after he raised her case with the Attorney General and North Yorkshire Police.

Mr Sunak said the original court order made to protect Ward’s victim was “inadequate”, adding: “Mandy Dunford faced the terrifying prospect of her ordeal starting all over again.

“Kenneth Ward has shown no remorse for his offences and Mandy can have had no confidence that she could live in her own home safely.

“I’m delighted the order has been changed and perhaps Mandy can now rest easy in her home with some peace of mind.”