A couple who breached a noise abatement notice have been taken to court and fined.
The council received complaints about Kevin Kimani and Caroline Gitau, of Franklin Avenue, in January 2023. The complaints related to noise from computer games and people gathering, shouting and arguing during nighttime hours of 11pm -7am and prolonged regular periods on the weekends.
Following an investigation, where noise monitoring equipment was installed and affected residents completed noise diaries, a noise abatement notice was issued in October 2023.
This was breached within a few days and a warrant was issued to seize noise making equipment from the property in November 2023. The seized equipment included a TV, games console, games, speakers and amplifiers.
The couple was prosecuted by the council for a statutory noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
They were both found guilty, in their absence, at a hearing on 1 July at Reading Magistrates’ Court.
They were each fined a total of £2,531, which includes a £480 fine, £1,859 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £192.
Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for equalities, public health and public protection, said: “This is a great result and a lesson to others not to cause such misery to their neighbours by being too noisy. A deprivation order was approved which means the seized equipment will not be returned to the couple.
“We want residents to live peacefully in their homes without statutory nuisance from others and we will continue to take action against those who are anti-social, with noise or other behaviour.”