Norfolk noisy boiler neighbour row led to contempt of court

Duncan Mayes, 43, repeatedly interrupted proceedings with a string of rants in which he accused magistrates and others of "corruption" and engaging in a "witch hunt".

During one of his numerous tirades berating the bench from the dock, he told them: “I don’t know who you think you are.” 

He also shouted down court staff he accused of smirking, branded female solicitors "evil women" and on several occasions demanded to know the identity of a man in the public gallery he accused of sitting too close to his mother.

Duncan Mayes was sent to cells for contempt of court following extraordinary outbursts at Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

After several warnings, magistrates finally tired of his unruly antics and ordered he be taken down to the cells for contempt of court.

When he re-emerged five hours later, proceedings finally resumed after he apologised to the court. But his heated interruptions continued.

WHAT WAS THE CASE?

Mayes was appearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court, where he was due to be sentenced for criminal damage and two counts of harassment following a long-running dispute on The Street in Corpusty, near Aylsham.

It followed the installation of a boiler by Mark and Wendy Fisher that Mayes, who lives with his mother next door, claims was done without proper checks or permission and is noisy and emits toxic fumes.

At the hearing, he initially refused to enter the dock, before additional security staff were called into the court.

He then entered the dock but refused to cooperate with proceedings.

The court was told  - between interruptions from Mayes - that he had been convicted in his absence following a trial in March.

But in a string of furious outbursts he accused the district judge and legal advisor who oversaw those proceedings of being corrupt and demanded his sentencing be stopped claiming he had legal documents proving he had lodged appeals at the High Court of Justice.

Duncan Mayes and his mother leaving Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

TEMPERS COOL?

His interruptions preventing prosecutors opening the case saw magistrates tell him he was in contempt of court and ordered he be sent to the cells, adjourning the case.

It resumed on his return five hours later when Mayes apologised to the court through duty defence solicitor Jonathan Perkins.

However, his repeated interruptions continued as prosecutor Holly Postle gave details of how he had used a piece of wood to smash the flue off the boiler in November 2022 causing £1,113 of damage.

She added that harassment, including confrontations and numerous letters claiming the boiler was illegal, had forced Mr and Mrs Fisher to move out. 

In statements read in court the couple described feeling fearful and stressed that they were “prisoners in their own home”.

They said they had unsuccessfully sought to resolve the dispute and were now living with relatives.

“It feels relentless. We feel we can no longer move back into our own home,” they added.

‘SHOCKING DISGRACE’

During a 15-minute speech in his defence Mayes, who was representing himself, claimed council officials were corrupt over the “illegal” installation of what he said was industrial machinery rather than a domestic boiler.

“What is happening here is an absolutely shocking disgrace. Me and my mother are law-abiding citizens of this land,” he said.  

The dispute centres on fumes from a noisy boiler installed by his next door neighbours at Pottersfield in Corpusty (Image: Google)

He said the boiler made loud noises 200 times a day and that diesel fumes drifted into his property.

He admitted removing a flue pipe but denied having damaged it.

“I’m not going to lie down while they poison myself and my mother,” he added.   

The court had earlier been told a council investigation had found the boiler had been fitted legally. 

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12 month community order requiring him to do 150 hours unpaid work and ordered he pay £1,130 compensation. 

They also made him subject to a four year restraining order banning him from contacting Mr and Mrs Fisher, entering their property or filming or recording them.