A 60-YEAR-OLD man has been issued with a restraining order after subjecting his elderly neighbours to a three-year campaign of threats, abusive gestures and foul language.

Ernest Ollerton, who lives with his partner in Barnwell Road, Melksham, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment when he appeared at Chippenham magistrates' court on Monday.

Since 2003 he has targeted pensioners Les Trimmer, 85, and Hazel Moore, 61, who both live on the opposite side of the road.

The abuse started after a dispute over car parking, when Ollerton began to block Mr Trimmer's driveway. Mr Trimmer said he tried to resolve the problem at first: "I tried to be friendly with him when he started coming here to see his lady friend, but he quickly became abusive because of car parking.

"When I first asked him to move his car he started swearing. "From then on he would make obscene gestures whenever he saw me, and would often be sat in his kitchen, staring through our front window."

Ollerton soon began to single out Mrs Moore for the same treatment. She said: "On a number of occasions when he was outside washing his car, I could see him looking through my window and giving me the V sign.

"He would also swear at me and be abusive. The final straw came when I was outside with my six-year-old grandson and he came across the road ranting and raving, using foul language."

Both Mr Trimmer and Mrs Moore said they felt very threatened by Ollerton's behaviour and it got to the point where they were frightened to go outside for fear of another confrontation.

It was at this stage they decided to involve the police.

The restraining order prevents Ollerton from parking on Barnwell Road for three years, and prohibits him from being abusive to Mr Trimmer and Mrs Moore. He was told by magistrates his behaviour had been intolerable and warned if he breaks the order, the courts have the option of imposing a prison sentence. In addition to the restraining order he was fined £50 and ordered to pay £43 costs.

After the hearing, Ollerton said: "I can't believe what has happened, I think they (Mrs Moore and Mr Trimmer) will set me up so they can get me arrested. "I'm scared to go outside, because they might just say I've made a gesture when I haven't, so I'll end up in court again."

Mr Trimmer said: "I was over the moon when I heard about what had happened to him in court. I was worried that he might get away with just a caution." Mrs Moore added: "If he breaks this order in any way whatsoever, we will be straight on the phone to the police."