A nightmare neighbour has been sentenced to one year and three months in prison for continuously subjecting his neighbours to loud electronic music.
The convicted individual, identified as Jordi F., generated so much constant noise, that he affected the sleep patterns of his neighbours and caused them anxiety.
The persistent issue of noise and its resultant nuisance reached a resolution in the Catalonia region of Spain, near to Barcelona, as the conviction shed light on the consequences of prolonged disruptive behaviour.
Jordi F., a resident of El Masnou, was found guilty of repeatedly playing electronic music at excessive volumes, disregarding the requests of his neighbours to lower the sound.
His actions had a significant impact on three neighbouring households, resulting in physical and psychological consequences for those affected.
The disturbance, in El Masnou, Barcelona, lasted for approximately five years, with local authorities being called multiple times to intervene.
The gravity of the situation was acknowledged in 2014 when Barcelona authorities conducted a sound level study, revealing that the volume of music played by Jordi F. exceeded the permitted limits by a substantial margin.
The neighbourly pleas for consideration went unanswered, exacerbating the adverse effects experienced by those living in close proximity.
As a consequence, the case reached the courts in 2015, culminating in a recent verdict by the second criminal court in Mataró, Barcelona.
Jordi F. was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for the offence. The court’s ruling stressed the significant disturbance caused by the “excessive” volume of music, noting the alteration of the victims’ normal lifestyles and their enduring state of anxiety.
In addition to the prison sentence, the offender has been ordered to pay €18,000 in compensation to the three affected neighbours and a fine of €2,166. Furthermore, a unique provision of the ruling prohibits Jordi F. from pursuing any profession related to electronic music. This comprehensive judgment serves as a significant step towards restoring peace and tranquility to the affected community.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.
