German couple bombarded with loud war music

Magistrates heard how Geoffrey Butler loudly played wartime songs including The White Cliffs Of Dover by Vera Lynn, the Dambusters theme tune and Rule Britannia, as well as broadcasting a Winston Churchill speech.

He also whistled patriotic tunes, stared at his neighbours Reinhard and Kathryn Wendt, both 62, and made unfounded complaints about them.

Medway Magistrates’ Court in Kent was told the couple’s lives had been made a misery over four years by the 54-year-old’s behaviour and they likened his abuse to “being water-boarded”.

Butler, of Lower Upnor, near Rochester, Kent, was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment and given a three-year conditional discharge at the request of his neighbours, who said they did not want vengeance.

He was also given a restraining order banning him from playing loud music, using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour towards the couple, pointing cameras at them or their property, or making any suggestive comments towards the German race.

As Butler was sentenced, he shouted that the trial had been a farce and he would be appealing against the conviction.

Magistrate Colin Smith said: “We found Mr and Mrs Wendt to be compelling, credible and consistent witnesses. Their assertion that loud war-related music was being played was corroborated.

“We found Mr Butler’s evidence to be evasive and contradictory, both in the court and in police interview.

“We are satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that, Mr Butler played music on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time that he ought to have known would cause offence to Mr and Mrs Wendt.”

The relationship between Butler and the Wendts turned sour shortly after they moved next door to the teacher in the village of Lower Upnor, near Rochester, in early 2007.

Following a row over solicitors’ costs from a failed deal over the transfer of a 6ft piece of land, the neighbours fell out. The situation came to a head on July 30 2007 when Butler and Mr Wendt came to blows after the teacher accused his neighbour of throwing something at him as he returned home.

Butler claimed Mr Wendt waved a chair at him and was shouting: “Get off my land, big head.”

A scuffle ensued and Butler said he tried to restrain his neighbour while defending himself.

But Butler, who had no visible injuries following the fight, was arrested and taken to the police station. He was released without charge but the harassment continued.

Barrister Thomas Daniel, representing Butler, referred to several incidents between July 2007 and April 2011 where the Wendts had claimed Butler had played loud wartime music, used the word Nazi, taken photographs of the couple and had been heard whistling the Dambusters theme tune.

He said there had been so many listed by the couple that certain incidents had been given names, including the “fat old trout day” and the “neighbourhood watch issue”.

But Butler maintained it was they who had been harassing him, claiming he did not own any Dad’s Army-style music and had never played music from his house. He also said he could not whistle.

Outside the court Mr and Mrs Wendt said they felt justice had been done but they were too frightened to go on living opposite Butler and would have to move.

Mrs Wendt said: “It has been hell. It has been awful. We have had nightmares. I have just been so upset.”

Mr Wendt said: “I cannot say I really feel anything towards him. I feel that justice has been done today. We feel relieved.”