Chesterfield woman “goaded” by neighbours pleads with judge for help

Cheryl Lomas asked District Judge Andrew Davison “is there anything you can do?” as she described “non-stop trouble” from fellow householders in Newbold.

Lomas appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates Court this week to be sentenced after admitting charges of threatening behaviour and harassment for her part in the long-running row.

The judge heard the 39-year-old had shouted homophobic insults, threatened to set neighbours’ budgies on fire and stab one “through the heart”.

However after being handed a 12-month community order Lomas addressed the court, saying since a previous hearing her family had been “photographed and videoed”.

While her teenage daughter now had “challenging behaviour” problems after seeing her parents assaulted.

Lomas’ solicitor Steve Brint told the court when she returned to her Occupation Road home after last month’s court appearance “four other parties were stood on the wall goading her”.

Mr Brint described how Lomas and her partner had reported “numerous” offences by “two other parties” living in properties either side of her during the last year-and-a-half.

He told how during one incident Lomas’ partner was left with a dislocated bone in his nose.

However due to delays during the pandemic the six-month deadline - by which time charges must come before the court - had been missed.

Lomas had been assigned a PCSO and police installed CCTV outside her home, while she was offered another property which she had to decline as it would have meant a school move for one of her children.

Mr Brint added: “Nothing is going to change over the coming months - it will be like that until Miss Lomas moves.”

Judge Davison, adding he was “disappointed” police investigations had led to nothing, told Lomas during the hearing he had “some sympathy” for her “situation”.

However he told her: “All you can do is keep making complaints to the police - keep informing them and updating them.”

Mum-of-three Lomas was handed a 12-month community order with 12 rehabilitation activity days, fined £100, made to pay a £95 victim surcharge and £45 court costs.

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