A RAVER who made his neighbours' lives a misery for a year with loud, thudding music has been fined £500 by magistrates.

David Faulkner, of Wigan Lane, Coppull, was taken to court by Chorley Borough Council.

The unusual action followed complaints by Faulkner's neighbours George and Sheila McDermott.

The McDermotts, who have two young children Colin, aged 13, and David, 10, called in environmental health officers who used recording equipment for evidence.

Faulkner, who is in his 20s, pleaded guilty to causing noise nuisance at Chorley Magistrates Court and was also ordered to pay £300 costs to the council.

He had been found guilty of a similar offence earlier this year when he was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

The McDermotts have lived in their mid-terraced house next to Faulkner, who moved in a year ago, for the past 18 years.

Mr McDermott, aged 46, said after the hearing: "The house shook, it was deafening, we were not allowed to sleep for days on end. He has totally stressed out my life."

Mrs McDermott, 42, said: "We have had to sit here and put up with deafening music from the moment we woke up to the moment we went to bed."

The council has pledged to get tough with noisy neighbours with new powers under the Noise Act 1996.

Roger Stagles, Chorley's director of community services, said: "We will do what we can to stop lives being ruined by loud music."

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