Moment vile thug petrol bombs his neighbour’s home after they complained about his noise
A NEIGHBOUR from hell hurled a petrol bomb at next door’s property in a vindictive hate campaign against them. James Banning, 36, torched the home of Louise Diamond, 54, and David Roddis, 51, after they made a complaint about the noise coming from his semi-detached property. Banning launched a hate campaign against the couple and […]
A NEIGHBOUR from hell hurled a petrol bomb at next door’s property in a vindictive hate campaign against them.
James Banning, 36, torched the home of Louise Diamond, 54, and David Roddis, 51, after they made a complaint about the noise coming from his semi-detached property.
Banning launched a hate campaign against the couple and threatened to beat Ms Diamond so badly that she would be a “vegetable”, a court heard.
Graffiti was daubed on a bridge which read “Louise Diamond is a grass”, while posters of her face were plastered around the picturesque Warwickshire village of Stoneleigh.
The couple, who were forced to flee their home after the arson attack, managed to escape the blaze on September 30 last year, which also destroyed their BMW.
Banning was jailed at Warwick Crown Court today for ten years after being found guilty of arson, being reckless, endangering life and harassment.
Judge Andrew Lockhart, QC, told how Banning held a relentless grudge after his neighbours complained to Warwick District Council in April last year over the level of noise coming from his house.
After learning of the complaint, Banning made a call to Ms Diamond, threatening: “What sort of vegetable would you like to be, because you’re going to be a vegetable?
I’m going to hunt you down and kill you, you b***h
James Banning to Louise Diamond
‘I’m going to hunt you down and kill you, you b***h.’
In another, he told her: I’m going to rip your face off.”
CCTV recovered from the blaze revealed Banning approaching the house equipped with a hammer and a makeshift petrol bomb that was dripping burning liquid onto the road.
He could be seen throwing the firebomb before fleeing in a car.
Ms Diamond today described the lengthy jail term as a “huge relief”. She chose not to attend court.
Neighbours today told how Ms Diamond and engineer Mr Roddis had lived in the home in Hall Close for around 14 years before being rehoused by the council.
One resident said: “Banning has always been a lout. When he was younger he was into speeding cars around the estate and generally causing mayhem.
“He would keep up the pretences with other neighbours, and was friendly enough with them, but he hated Louise Diamond.
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“No-one could believe it when they saw the graffiti on the bridge or when posters started appearing.”
Another neighbour in the quiet close said she was shocked to learn about the bitter dispute.
She said: “To me, he always seemed nice enough but it goes to show that you never really know what’s going on behind closed doors.”
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