Ex-firefighter used torch to trigger elderly neighbour's security cameras in feud, court told

A retired senior firefighter deliberately triggered the Ring security cameras of his elderly neighbour at night during a feud, a court heard. Andrew Hagan, 54, used a torch to set off the devices up to four times each evening, magistrates were told.

A court heard he said 'you still bloody filming are you, weirdos?' after becoming fed up at Erica Hogg's cameras pointing over the majority of his driveway on their suburban cul-de-sac.

Mr Hagan was charged with harassing retired sale manager Mrs Hogg, 70, and her daughter, but was cleared of both charges.

Chairman of the magistrates, Ian Knight, said there were 'problems on both sides of this debate' and that 'both sides of this case sit within the unreasonable behaviour category in our view'. "Both parties in this case should seek professional assistance to privacy," he added.

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"Redirect your cameras and your neighbours' cameras onto their own property as far as reasonably practicable. Both parties should refrain from making comments to the cameras or to the occupiers.'"

Mr Knight said Mr Hagan should 'reflect on your own conduct', adding: "What we have seen today is not acceptable. You are an adult. You need to act like one. You also need to learn to live with there being cameras in society, so do your neighbours."

Chester Magistrates' Court heard that in a series of incidents, father-of-two Mr Hagan was seen shining the torch into one of the cameras to set them off. He was heard accusing Mrs Hogg of being 'nosy' and sarcastically telling the camera: ''We have been Christmas shopping, is that okay? All three of us are back now."

Mrs Hogg called