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| Bullseye: Pooh Hits Target |
A two-year feud between dog-owning women neighbours in leafy Richmond-upon-Thames escalated when one threw her pooch’s excrement into the other’s front garden.
Forensic psychologist Bibi Cotman, 47, was caught on CCTV twice tossing dog bags onto the £690,000 property, later admitting it was an act of retaliation.
She pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to harassing her neighbour on July 3 and 6 at her home in Worple Way.
The court heard single-mum Cotman lives around the corner in a £1m rented house in Houblon Road and both women have received police harassment warnings during their feud.
Cotman says things turned sour after she accused the woman of failing to control her dogs and the neighbour countered that she was an unfit mother.
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| Caught In The Act: Cotman |
“There have been issues between Cotman and her neighbour and both were issued harassment warnings in November, 2016,” explained prosecutor Mr. Chidi Ikwuakolam.
The neighbour has a camera and warning outside her house.
“On both days Cotman is seen via CCTV throwing a dog bag, containing dog excrement, into her front garden.
“The first time was at 2.25pm and the blue bag is identified and she did the same thing three days later.”
Afterwards the neighbour said: “Cotman has made me feel uncomfortable where I live. I’m always trying to avoid her.
“I am alarmed, harassed and distressed and worry about leaving my property in case she sees me.
“I worry about what she will do to my property.”
Vittoria Trigilio, defending, told the court: “There have been malicious allegations made against Bibi Cotman by her neighbour and she has offered to sit down with her neighbour.
“One of the allegations at the beginning of the dispute was about her fitness to be a mother.
“She is very sorry to have done something so juvenile as to throw excrement. It is thoroughly unpleasant and unacceptable for dog waste to be placed in her garden.”
Cotman told a court probation officer: “She’s made my life hell,” explaining her neighbour turned against her when she demanded she control her dogs.
She also feels the neighbour’s son has bullied her nine year-old daughter and overall has “got away” with bad behaviour.
Ms. Trigilio added: “She has taken steps to avoid her neighbour and is profoundly ashamed of what she has done.
“It was impulsive behaviour and she knows she has an example to set to her daughter.”
Cotman is currently working on a novel and planning on returning full-time to her profession.
Cotman was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes up to ten days rehabilitation and was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
District Judge Barbara Barnes told her: “You have admitted to harassing your neighbour by throwing dog mess into her garden in furtherance of some grievance.
“I think it is serious and completely unacceptable behaviour.”
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