A NOISY neighbour in Petersfield has had his hi-fi equipment seized for the second time in two months.
Last month all his own equipment was confiscated by East Hampshire District Council, and now officers have returned and removed a stereo borrowed from a friend.
The man, who lives at Cranford Road, was the first person targeted by the council when it used its powers to confiscate his stereo equipment.
An abatement notice was served on the man in May, however, evidence was gained of a breach of the notice and a large amount of equipment was seized on June 27.
Later a call was made to the environmental health emergency out-of-hours noise service regarding the same home.
The duty officer went to the Cranford Road home in the early hours of July 15.
The noise from the manÕs property was very loud, the walls were vibrating and there was a heavy bass beat, reported a spokesman for EHDC.
Once a magistratesÕ warrant to force entry was gained, officers returned to the house to seize the equipment.
Record decks, amplifiers and tape decks were taken, along with a CD stereo system, which apparently had been loaned to the man by a friend.
ÒI hope this will make people more cautious when considering the loan of their stereo equipment to this man,Ó said environmental protection manager Patricia Hughes.
ÒThe council will continue to seize the noise-making equipment from this property if there continues to be a breach of the abatement notice - and the owners of the equipment may not see it again for a long time, if at all.Ó
All of the equipment, including the stereo said to be owned by a friend, will be held until the prosecution case is heard in September.
The council will apply for a confiscation order for all of the equipment. If successful, the owner of the CD player will have to make an application to the court for the return of the equipment. If they can prove that they are the owner, the magistrate may decide that the equipment should be returned - otherwise it will remain with the council.
The council could seize the equipment under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The earlier haul included more than 300 records, eight speakers, three amplifiers and a couple of mixing desks.