A care home worker who played Janet Jackson songs so loudly his neighbour could not sleep has been fined by magistrates.

Jonathan Scott kept Vera Welsh awake at night and prevented her from using her garden during the summer because of the music, singing and shouting, a court heard.

Scott, of Sackville Road, Hove, admitted breaching a noise abatement notice and was fined £250 and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Len Batten, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove City Council, told the court the neighbour, who has lived in her home for 29 years, complained she had been disturbed by noise since 1998.

One night in May she was kept awake for hours.

Eventually Ms Welsh called the police who referred her to the city council's noise patrol service.

That night the noise continued until the early hours of the morning.

Scott, who is in his 30s, was served with a noise abatement notice but the problem did not stop.

In the early hours of July 7, Ms Welsh called the city council again after she was woken by loud music, singing, shouting and foul language.

Chris Bull, defending, said Scott, who works for a city council home, apologised to his neighbour.

He admitted breaching the order, although he claimed he had never received it.

He said no other neighbours had ever complained to him about noise.

Mr Bull said: "Had he been aware of the disturbance he was causing, he would not have carried on. He will make sure it will not happen again.

"He has never been in court before for any matter and it is a traumatic experience.

"He is employed by Brighton and Hove City Council and he is being prosecuted by his employer."

Mr Bull said the night in May when the noise patrol was called out was Scott's birthday and his mother was among the guests celebrating the occasion.

He said: "There was music playing and there was loud noise and it was a merry occasion.

"It went on until the early hours but there was no visit from anyone to ask for the music to be turned down at all." After the hearing at Brighton Magistrates Court, Ms Welsh said she was pleased with the outcome.