Asbo OAP's daughter escapes order

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The daughter of OAP "neighbour from hell" Dorothy Evans has escaped being bound over to keep the peace.

In September, Evans, 83, was banned from her home in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, for breaching an Asbo.

Newport Crown Court heard that the judge wanted to see her daughter, Barbara Thomas, in court following information during her mother's trial.

He said Mrs Thomas was an "incendiary" in relation to her mother but decided against binding her over.

Judge Nicholas Cooke QC had earlier said he would decide at Friday's hearing whether or not to bind Mrs Thomas over to keep the peace for her own behaviour towards her neighbours.

He had been fearful that Mrs Thomas, who lives with her mother at Park Crescent, would breach the peace if she was not restrained.

She [Mrs Thomas] acts as an incendiary in relation to her mother Judge Nicholas Cooke QC

He said there was "a real risk of violence" being provoked in others by Mrs Thomas and added: "I think she's a substantial contributor to the problem.

"She [Mrs Thomas] acts as an incendiary in relation to her mother."

However, after hearing representations from Mrs Thomas's barrister Harry Baker, the judge said he would not be taking the matter any further.

Judge Cooke said: "I have decided it will cause great trouble to the public if I proceed in this direction.

"I am satisfied I will not make any progress in relation to that and I change my mind."

Earlier, Mr Baker had told the court there had been no further incidents since the Evans's trial and said the fact Mrs Thomas had turned up in court "demonstrates she has respect for law and order".Dorothy Evans was banned from her home for breaching an Asbo

"My submission is that it is entirely unreasonable to come to the conclusion Barbara Thomas is likely to provoke violence, that would be the view I would persist in," said Mr Baker.

The judge had previously banned Evans from living in her home for five years after she was found guilty of two breaches of her Asbo, which prevented her harassing her neighbours.

This was overturned on appeal and she has now returned to live with Mrs Thomas, although any further harassment would result in her being sent to prison.

The Court of Appeal, in London, ordered that Evans must not leave the house except between 10am and 3pm - and must at no time enter her back garden.