A THORNTON Heath man was forced to put a sock in it when council officers seized his music-playing equipment after a year of complaints from neighbours.
Justin Sewell, of Howberry Road, was the cause of 27 complaints to Croydon Council's pollution team over the course of a year because of the loud music coming from his flat.
Sewell had been served with a statutory abatement notice and admitted causing a noise nuisance to his neighbours at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 2.
The 27 complaints came from six of Sewell's neighbours between April 14 2013 and April 7 2014.
Council officers armed with a court warrant eventually seized his equipment because the noise was so frequent and intrusive.
In relation to the same problems Sewell was given a three year antisocial behaviour order.
Councillor Mark Watson, cabinet member for safety and justice, said some of the confiscated equipment could be used rather differently.
He said: ""Officers are looking into the possibility of giving the confiscated equipment a new lease of life by offering it, if checks to the electrics reveal it to be safe, for community use – to a charity, community centre or similar.
"Interestingly, a previously confiscated piece of kit was used by a charity to play the sound of birdsong to attract birds back to a nesting habitat."
Cllr Watson added: "People have the right to a good night's sleep without suffering the type of inconsiderate and selfish behaviour exhibited by this man.
"If any good has come of this prosecution, it is that his neighbours, one of whom is an NHS nurse, will no longer have to put up with noise through the night."
