Neighbour from hell jailed: Family had to soundproof wall to block him out

But even that expensive addition to the property could not prevent Miss Slinder Kaur and her two disabled sisters being forced to listen to foul-mouthed Carl Brotherton's rants, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 45-year-old also hurled abuse and made unpleasant hand gestures at the three women at the Nelson Road, Dudley, address that had been their family home for 35 years, explained Mr Oliver Woolhouse, prosecuting.

Brotherton defied repeated court orders to stop harassing them and continued the 'appalling' alcohol-fuelled behaviour for almost four years, continued the prosecutor.

Miss Kaur, who cares for her sisters, said in a victim impact statement read to the court: "I used to look forward to going home but now I hate being there. I cannot leave because I have got my sisters to look after and cannot leave them."

One of Miss Kaur's sisters has major mobility problems following a stroke while the other has learning difficulties.

Miss Kaur told how they all slept in one bedroom because it is the furthest point from Brotherton's home and continued: "I cannot put into words how much these incidents have affected us.

"We just want to live in our house and garden as any normal family would.

"We have nowhere else to turn because this man shows a complete lack of respect to us, the police and the courts. We have lived at this address for 35 years and now feel like prisoners in our own home."

Mr Ranjit Lally, defending, said: "He is appalled, disgusted and deeply embarrassed by what he has done. It is no way to treat a neighbour. The root cause is alcohol. He knows he has got a real problem."

Brotherton, who pleaded guilty to breaching a non-harassment order, has moved to Birmingham.

He was jailed for 40 weeks and made the subject of a criminal anti-social behaviour order banning him from an area of Dudley that includes Nelson Road.

Judge Nicholas Cole told him: "This was a sustained period of abuse together with persistent and flagrant disregard for orders of the court."