Noisy teen told to shut up by court after music drove out neighbours
REFUSING to turn down the volume on her music has proved costly for a teenager.
Karla Knuth, 18, was fined £1,015 by Plymouth magistrates and will have her music equipment confiscated. She was also ordered to pay £1,200 in costs.
Knuth, of King Street Flats in Stonehouse, played her music so loudly that some of her neighbours were driven out of their homes, the court heard.
Knuth pleaded guilty by post to two breaches of a noise abatement order on August 10 and August 17.
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She was issued with two noise nuisance orders in August after neighbours complained about the loud music and levels of shouting and banging from her flat.
In spite of the warnings, she continued to play music loudly and disturb her neighbours.
The court heard how one neighbour was often forced to leave his home from 6pm to 6am in order to study at university as it was too noisy in his property to concentrate.
Another neighbour often stayed at friends' houses to get a decent night's sleep.
Magistrates ordered Knuth to pay £500 for each breach and a victim surcharge of £15. The court ordered the forfeiture of her music equipment including a CD player, digital synthesiser tuner, a speaker, CDs and a DVD player. The council was awarded £1,200 costs.
The council asked for a further application to be made ordering Knuth to "not cause harassment, alarm or distress by causing or allowing the playing of amplified music, by using a television, by banging, slamming doors or shouting at a level which can be heard by persons outside any residential property at which she is residing either permanently or temporarily in Plymouth."
The order runs for two years.
Cllr Brian Vincent, Cabinet member for the environment, said: "We take the issue of constant noise very seriously. This lady was living in flats and her behaviour was having a significant impact on the lives of her neighbours all around her.
"We are pleased with the result, and hope that she will change her behaviour to give some peace to the residents near by."
Comments
by vegas33139
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 11:10PM
“It begs the question; Why where some people driven out of their homes before anything was done about this person?
Anyone seen the new Dredd film? That's where it has to go folks. Break the law........BANG! You're dead!”
by josdave
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 8:37PM
“If she is on benefits they should be reduced to a bare minimum so she just has enough for basic essentials until the fine is paid.”
by MPstink1
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 5:20PM
“Dozy Stupid teenage Herald ajudicator is a moron.”
by jaygeek1
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 4:50PM
“Should have been community service.
Confiscated 1 speaker ^^ LOL, awesome.”
by imalady
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 3:59PM
“I agree make her do some usefull work in the community, there's no way she'll pay this fine. Mark my words her name will be in this paper again in the future”
by BarryBT
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 2:55PM
“Smacking causes cancer according to a Plymouth University Research!”
by kazzyb007
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 2:51PM
“what on earth is the point of giving a fine like that to someone on state benefits? Why not some sort of community payback order - perhaps working with people with hearing loss so she can witness first hand what damage can be done by loud noise?”
by JMonners
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 2:41PM
“£2200 in fines and costs, hmmm wonder where she gets her money from and if the fines will be paid?”
by Winstonsmith0
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:54PM
“And yet the likes of MVV can and do create almost unbearable noise for 10 hours a day and get away with it.
I bet if the same methods of measurement were applied to this teenagers 'noise' the neighbours would not have a leg to stand on.
The point is that noise is noise - whether it be noisy music or the sound of heavy rigs drilling into bedrock or concrete for hours on end.
People nearby still suffer, they still have limits and they can still be pushed over those limits.
It's just a pity that big money business appears to be working to a completely different set of far more lenient rules. One for the rich another for the poor, as they say.
Ah the true face of business!”
by Foldart
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:37PM
“Should have been smacked as a child when she behaved like that. Kids these days...”