AN AWARD-winning gardener who told her neighbours she would hang them from a tree and leave them to "dangle" has been handed a three-year restraining order.
Retired teacher Danuta Cross, 64, who previously admitted harassing and hurling abuse at her neighbours David Myill and Alex Smith, appeared before Beverley Magistrates' Court yesterday to be sentenced.
She revealed she was putting her house in Little Wold Lane, South Cave, up for sale, claiming she was, in fact, the victim of a bullying campaign.
Andrew Vaughan, prosecuting, said: "This is a course of incidents that have been going on since December 6 last year.
"I am not going to go through every incident but things came to a head on July 7 this year, when the defendant was heard saying to her neighbours 'I will let you hang from that f****** tree and leave you to dangle'."
The court also heard how Cross showed her knickers to her neighbours, shouting "I know he is watching me. I can see him when I am in my underwear.
"David old boy, that's what you wanted to see, isn't it"
The harassment charge relates to between December 6 last year and June 9 this year.
Cross had already been given a conditional discharge for similar offences against the same couple in December, making the latest offence a breach of that order.
Cross previously claimed her neighbours were "stalking" her as part of a bullying campaign fuelled by their resentment over her garden.
The court heard how the 64-year-old believes every time she works in her garden, which previously won the South Cave Gardening Competition, the couple silently stare at her.
Michael Copeman, mitigating, said: "My client states she is the victim in all of this.
"She admits her actions have been appalling and she has acted in an entirely appropriate fashion, but states she has been at the end of her tether.
"This is a bizarre case. We have a whole sheet of references from residents saying how highly regarded Mrs Cross is.
"She is putting her house on the market.
"It is the only solution for one party or the other to move away somewhere else."
Cross was fined £450 for the harassment charge.
She was also fined £450 for breaching her conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £45 victim surcharge.
District Judge Fred Rutherford also handed Mrs Cross a three-year restraining order and warned her about her actions in the future.
He said: "You still feel you are the victim in all this, but you must not continue in this manner.
"You have spent a lifetime assisting others, but to come to court for this is a sad situation.
"You have to deal with the fact that, if you continue as you are, you will find yourself in prison."
