A MAN has been banned from deliberately annoying his neighbour by having fires, or starting motorcycle engines in his garden.

Norman Rixson, 64, was given an Asbo after more than a year of trouble.

The order was imposed at Basildon Magistrates’ Court after Rixson was earlier found guilty of criminal damage. For that offence, Rixson, of Haig Road, Chadwell St Mary, was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs and £617 compensation.

The court heard Rixson had made his neighbours’ lives a misery by verbally abusing them and being racist.

The Asbo, which lasts indefinitely, bans him from: - Causing deliberate harassment, alarm or distress to any resident in Thurrock – including making racist or defamatory remarks, gestures, namecalling or swearing.

- Deliberately starting or running an engine in his back garden or otherwise to cause annoyance.

- Setting any fires designed to cause a nuisance.

- Dumping rubbish anywhere apart from designated bins.

- Entering any property without the owner’s permission.

Thurrock councillor Lynn Worrall said: “We will not tolerate neighbourhood nuisance.

“We will continue to use the courts to punish anyone guilty of it.”