Sussex couple in court over neighbour dispute

Husband and wife Nigel and Sheila Jacklin, both 61, are involved in a long-running dispute with their neighbours, a court heard.

Nigel Jacklin, a town councillor who hopes to become an MP at the next general election, denied intimidating his neighbours by staring in their windows.

His wife Sheila denied chanting and making hand gestures.

A court heard they are in a long-running dispute with their neighbours in Norman’s Bay near Hastings.

The couple outside their home

The Jacklins have lived in their £600,000 five-bedroom home yards from the beach for 30 years.

The trouble started not long after clinical psychologist Dr Stephane Duckett and partner Norinne Betjemann bought the 120-year-old disused glazing workshop opposite ten years ago.

Charlotte Frost, prosecuting, told Hastings Magistrates’ Court that it was a “long-running neighbour dispute”.

"They have a dispute with a couple said to have taken place over a long period of time," she said.

"It is said Mrs Jacklin would go to the garden fence, bringing a chair facing their home and would be sitting or standing, loudly chanting while making finger gestures.

"Mrs Jacklin says they are religious gestures.

"Her neighbour says they were rude."

The couple will face a trial in September (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Nigel Jacklin also denied assaulting a shop keeper who is on “friendly terms” with their neighbours.

"Mr Jacklin is accused of deliberately and forcefully pushing her into a fence," Ms Frost said.

The Jacklins were charged after being interviewed by police for several hours in October last year, the court heard.

Mrs Jacklin sobbed in the dock as Ms Frost told the court about the "animosity" between the neighbours.

The court heard Nigel Jacklin is accused of pursuing a course of conduct between July 1 and September 11 last year which amounted to the harassment of Norinne Betjemann.

The charge accuses him of staring into his neighbours' property, loitering on the property boundary and intimidating behaviour causing distress.

Mrs Jacklin is accused of staring, loitering, sticking her fingers up and chanting over the same dates.

Nigel Jacklin represents St Mark’s Ward on Bexhill Town Council and was elected in May last year. 

He is planning to challenge Rail Minister Huw Merriman for the Bexhill and Battle seat at the general election.

Nigel Jacklin said he is standing against police abuse of power.

A trial was set for September where the maximum penalty could be six months in prison.