Path Wars: Neighbour Accepts Restraining Order

Order: Ruby Virk

A warring neighbour received a restraining order today, but continues claiming the next-door couple are trespassing on her land when walking to their own front door.

Ruby Virk, 52, was due to stand trial, charged with harassing her neighbours, but the charge was dropped in return for her agreeing to the three-year order in a bid to keep the peace.

Each household has to use the same pathway to access their homes, resulting in a bitter dispute and the arrest of Virk.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard Haygreen Close, Kingston-upon-Thames was the scene of complaints from each household, accusing the other of anti-social behaviour.

Virk was charged with harassing the couple between April 17, last year and January 10, this year.

She was alleged to have stared at them; kicked rubbish near their door; poured liquid near their door; blocked their pathway and posted them a letter complaining about noise when served with a harassment warning.

Virk was also accused of calling the female partner a “bitch” and telling a delivery driver a package was for “the bastards next door.”

However, Virk told the court today: “Police have not acted on my last call for loud music, which they are doing to harass me. Environmental Health have told me it is a police matter and they are harassing me.

“They are not prepared to come and investigate the noise nuisance. I am in a Catch 22 situation and am very frustrated.

“I am very frustrated, angry and upset. My deeds clearly set out my boundary, my pathway, that's my land they are walking over.

“They are not allowed to walk over my land.”

Path Dispute: Haygreen Close

The court heard the neighbours share a party wall. “Unfortunately there has been no peace between the parties,” said prosecutor Colette Hanna.

“Forty-one has a right of access to walk past this defendant's property, they have a legal right.

“Virk also accuses the male neighbour, who is a professional man, of being a drug-dealer to other people.”

There is no truth to this allegation whatsoever.

The court agreed to make the restraining order in the hope it would minimise contact between the neighbours and stop the problems.

Virk was told not to stare at her neighbours when they come and go on the shared pathway or confront them outside and to be careful in what she says about them.