Woman’s campaign of harassment against 94-year-old neighbour left him scared to leave home

A woman has been sentenced following a prolonged campaign of harassment against her 94-year-old neighbour.

Nicola Sharkey, 65, of The Green, Steeple Morden, would film the victim when he was mowing his lawn or had visitors.

Sharkey would also verbally abuse him and his visitors when they were outside the house.

A court heard Sharkey shared a driveway with the victim and had previously had a good relationship with him.

However, the relationship deteriorated in 2021 and in September 2023, she erected a six-foot-high fence meaning he could no longer access his house by car. The fence also made it difficult for him to receive food and medication deliveries.

In his personal statement, the victim said: “I feel like I have been cut off from the world. This has been going on for nearly five years. In that time, I have lost my wife, my mobility has been reduced and naturally I have become less able due to my age.

“This is not a time in my life that I want to spend in a state of stress or worry. I want this time to be peaceful for me and my family.”

Sharkey was found guilty of harassment at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on 9 September. She was sentenced on Friday (10 October) at the same court to 200 hours of unpaid work, 15 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and handed a five-year restraining order.

The restraining order specifies she cannot contact her neighbour or block the driveway.

Det Con Charmaine Wood said: “This was a sustained period of harassment from Sharkey. What started out as a neighbour dispute quickly escalated and resulted in a vulnerable man feeling scared to leave his house.

“Her mobile phone showed she had 76 photos and videos of him simply trying to live his life, including footage from hidden cameras.

“I hope this sentence will make her realise these actions are not acceptable, and we will continue to support anyone who is a victim of abuse.”