Stalking trial: Women 'shouted abuse at neighbours'

Two women on trial for stalking "shouted derogatory abuse" at their neighbours, a court has heard.

Linda Lu, 35, and her mother Susan Chen, 61, of Linga Lane in Bassingham, Lincolnshire, deny stalking charges involving serious harm and distress.

They are accused of harassing a couple living next door, including with "periods of loud metallic banging", between 15 July and 29 September 2023.

The prosecution opened the the case at Lincoln Magistrates' Court, which is representing Lincoln Crown Court, earlier.

The court heard that the neighbours were in their garden on 15 July when they noticed Ms Chen taking photos of them from an upstairs window in her home.

Steve Taylor, prosecuting, said a dispute followed on 18 July, when neighbour James Smith was trimming a hedge outside his home.

Ms Chen came outside to tell Mr Smith he "couldn't trim" the hedge. She said it belonged to her.

Further incidents followed, the court heard, including "a racket" coming from the home of Ms Lu and Ms Chen on 19 August, and "loud banging" on 23 August.

The Smiths went away in late August to "try and get some respite". However, when they returned, banging from next door commenced "within 15 minutes".

On 30 August, Mr Smith made a statement to Lincolnshire Police.

Mr Taylor told the court that, by September, incidents were happening on a "daily basis" and did not stop after the defendants were visited by police.

Ms Chen and Ms Lu were arrested on 5 September and again at the end of that month.

Videos made by Mr Smith on 1, 2 and 4 September were played in court and the defendants could be heard "shouting derogatory abuse", including words such as "retards".

There were also "periods of loud metallic banging".

Mr Taylor told the court that Ms Chen and Ms Lu had alleged that they were the ones being "stalked and harassed".

During a police interview on 5 September, Ms Lu accepted she had said the phrases on the recordings, but it had been "a private conversation". She had used the word "retards" when "she was referring to people she was suing but couldn't remember who".

Ms Chen also accepted she had said things heard on the recordings. However, in relation to a recording made on 1 September, she said she thought she had been "having a row with her daughter", rather than addressing the neighbours.

The defendants are representing themselves and the trial, which is anticipated to take between six and eight days, continues.

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