Homeowner demands compensation for 'neighbour from hell' Mr Hurst is suing the couple for misrepresentation and seeking damages of up to £100,000, plus interest and costs. Mr McGrath has made the lives of Mr Hurst and his wife Kerry a misery, and caused them serious and prolonged upset, distress, and anxiety, the writ says. "Put simply, they have found themselves with a 'neighbour from hell'," it said. Mr Hurst claims that because of the anti-social neighbour his home is worth £94,500 instead of the £180,000 it should be worth, and is demanding the difference. He claims that the Wilsons gave verbal assurances that the neighbour at number 34 was a quiet man. The sellers also gave written assurances on the so-called Sellers" Property Information Form, which vendors are required to fill out, there had been no problems or disputes with neighbours and they had not had any negotiations or discussions with any neighbours or authorities which affected the house in any way. The writ said: "If the defendants had informed the claimant of the true facts either verbally or in the SPIF he would not have proceeded to purchase the property." As soon as Mr Hurst bought the property, he claims that Mr McGrath's anti-social behaviour became immediately evident. According to the writ, Mr McGrath has "persistently" obstructed the driveway to the house with pots and made loud noises by slamming doors, running up and down the stairs singing and playing loud music. He was also "persistently displayed a balaclava helmet, which gives him an intimidating appearance and which he was banned from wearing under the terms of his ASBO," the writ claims. In December 2008 Mr McGrath admitted three charges of breaching his ASBO at Chelmsford Crown Court, while in July 2009 he was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence. The next year Mr McGrath was sentenced to a community order and ordered to undergo mental health treatment after chasing after some teenage boys with a kitchen knife. Meanwhile in June 2011 he was sentenced to six months imprisonment for using threatening or intimidating behaviour. Mark Lewis, a lawyer at Taylor Hampton solicitors, said that neighbour disputes are always tricky to deal with legally. He said that answers given on forms by a seller during preliminary enquiries about a property become contractual when the sale goes through. However he said that when it comes to allegations of misrepresentation, a lot depends on the precise wording of the seller's answers. Mr Lewis, who is not involved in the case, said: "What people are buying is a dream but it can turn out to be a nightmare."