Couple banned from looking into their neighbours home in 11-year row after being accused of chanting, staring and sticking their fingers up have charges dropped as they argue wife was only performing Hindu prayer routine outdoors
A couple once banned from looking into their neighbours home during an 11-year row have had charges of harassment against them finally dropped.
A couple once banned from looking into their neighbours home during an 11-year row have had charges of harassment against them finally dropped.
Nigel and Sheila Jacklin were legally barred from looking into the home of neighbour Dr Stephane Duckett and his partner in the town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.
Earlier this year the couple were again accused of chanting, staring and sticking their fingers up at their neighbour and his partner from a nearby beach.
Both were charged with harassment but claimed the chanting and finger-pointing were part of Mrs Jacklins Hindu prayer routine.
Mr Jacklin, 62, was also charged with assaulting a female friend of their neighbours during a separate row outside his £600,000 home.
Nigel and Sheila Jacklin pictured outside their property in Behill-on-Sea in East Sussex
Both were charged with harassment but claimed the chanting and finger-pointing were part of Mrs Jacklins Hindu prayer routine. (Sheila Jacklin pictured with her hands in prayer)
However yesterday all charges against the couple were dropped when they appeared before magistrates in Brighton, East Sussex.
The decision ended the long dispute which started when the couple first complained about building work at the home of clinical psychologist Dr Duckett.
The Jacklins appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Tuesday having pleaded not guilty to harassment of their neighbour.
Mr Jacklin also pleaded not guilty to an assault and both he and his wife claim it was they who had been assaulted.
Mrs Jacklin, 61, said the chanting, staring and movement of her fingers were a part of her Sanskrit mantras.
The Crown Prosecution Service requested an adjournment which was refused by the court, meaning no evidence was offered by the prosecution.
The Jacklins were told they were free to go.
Mr Jacklin, a statistician and market researcher, said: We are feeling relieved, elated and p***ed off.
The couple had complained about renovation work being done to the property by Dr Stephane Duckett (left) and his partner Norinne Betjemann (right)
Shelia and Nigel Jacklin outside Brighton Magistrates Court on September 10, 2024. They are elated that the charges have been dropped
This should never have gone to the court.
This is the fourth time my wife has been investigated for praying on the beach.
Weve been investigated 12 times with no action taken against us in any case.
Thats not a series of police mistakes - that is abuse of police power.
Mr Jacklin, a councillor, said the couple had spent tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees over the repeated police investigations and court battles.
The row began in 2013 when Dr Duckett and partner Norinne Betjemann bought a 120-year-old, disused glass glazing workshop opposite their house.
The couple, from London, then set about converting it into a £400,000 weekend holiday home.
Mr and Mrs Jacklin made a series of complaints about their neighbours to the authorities, including noisy builders, verbal abuse and light pollution.
Nigel and Sheila Jacklin who had been issued with a Community Protection warning, that does not allow them to even look at their neighbours home
Pictured, the exclusion zone around the neighbours house in Normans Bay, East Sussex. The Jacklins were banned from looking into their neighbours property
However, the Jacklins were then investigated by the Rother District Council and given a community protection warning letter.
They were also banned from entering an exclusion zone around the property owned by Dr Duckett and Ms Betjemann.
The Jacklins reported their neighbours in July 2023 for harassment when they claim Mrs Jacklin was surrounded by her neighbours filming her as she tried to pray.
In September that year, Mr Jacklin claims he was assaulted after a friend of the Ducketts approached them on the beach outside their home.
As the couple made their way back to the house, Mr Jacklin said the woman shouted to Mrs Jacklin: The whole village wishes you were dead.
Mr Jacklin said he approached the woman and she strangled him.
He said: The woman then claimed I bashed her against the fence, kicked her dog and repeatedly headbutted her.
It was completely made up. When she throttled me, she came at me again and I put my hand out to stop her, that was the only contact we had.
Mr Jacklin claims he was assaulted after a friend of the Ducketts approached them on the beach outside their home
Mr Jacklin is calling for Sussex Police to take action against the parties who he says have harassed them and made false allegations
Mr Jacklin pointed out that the incident was covered by one of his neighbours many CCTV cameras.
He said the footage of the three minutes in which the assault took place were never found despite a request by the Jacklins solicitors to be produced.
Mr Jacklin is calling for Sussex Police to take action against the parties who he says have harassed them and made false allegations.
The father-of-two said: It is a spectacular misuse of police time. We think its probably an abuse of police power.
I stood in the general election and one of the reasons I decided to do so is because police investigated us and not our neighbours. We should stand against abuse of power.
My wifes Hindu faith has helped her get through this. Weve been there for 30 years and plan to leave here forever.
Dr Duckett has been contacted for comment.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: We requested an adjournment in this case in order to discharge our disclosure obligations following late submissions by the defence.
The row began in 2013 when Dr Duckett and partner Norinne Betjemann bought a 120-year-old, disused glass glazing workshop opposite their house. Pictured, a general view of their neighbours home
Unfortunately, this request was refused by the court and we were regrettably left with no option but to offer no evidence.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: Sussex Police conducted a thorough, impartial investigation into multiple reports of harassment, and one reported assault, against three people between July and September, 2023.
Enquiries were conducted without prejudice, including multiple statements from the informants and witnesses, as well as interviews with both suspects.
Evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which approved charges of harassment and assault by battery, before no evidence was offered after Magistrates declined a request for adjournment from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Sussex Police will continue to do all it can to protect our communities and secure justice for victims of crime.
