A WHITEHAVEN man who was convicted by magistrates of harassing a neighbour has had the conviction overturned.

Stephen James Brough, 46, of Manesty Rise, Whitehaven, took his case to an appeal at Carlisle Crown Court after magistrates sitting in Workington convicted him of the public order offence at a hearing in August.

The allegation related to an incident on March 19 last year when the defendant was accused of subjecting Ian Potts to threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour, deliberately causing him alarm and distress. Mr Brough consistently denied wrongdoing.

After finding him guilty at the Workington court, magistrates imposed a fine of £1,373 and costs of £620 costs. But at the crown court, the guilty verdict was overturned after an appeal was put to the court by defence lawyer David Thompson.

The defendant was declared not guilty. The decision came after the evidence in the case was re-examined. The court found both parties were partly to blame, and both were abusive towards the other.

There was no intent by Mr Brough to cause harassment or alarm, the judge ruled. A prosecution application to the judge for a restraining order was refused.