Two Harold Hill police officers have been commended for their efforts, which led to the arrest and conviction of a man who caused misery to his neighbours for nearly a decade.

PC Mark Cleal and PC Trevor White were honored last week and awarded the Borough Commander Commendation for their professionalism, tenacity, and investigating skills while working with other groups in this complicated case of fraud and harassment.

The case involved a tenant in Harold Hill whose anti-social behaviour was a constant nuisance to both nearby residents and police.

Incidents included him keeping 40 cats and dogs, having bonfires of their excrement, setting fire to domestic appliances and the building of a dangerous and ugly wall around his house.

In 1999, following the loss of a court case by his neighbours, the man caused further distress by putting up surveillance cameras around his property, pointing in the direction of the bedrooms of the houses around his.

The community team in Harold Hill stepped into action in June 1999 with PC Cleal and PC White in charge of the case.

And so began a long investigation in which the officers contacted all of the agencies that had dealt with the man and several witness statements were taken from his neighbours.

As a result of their hard work, the man was arrested and his house was searched. The evidence seized led to him being charged with 17 offences relating to DSS and council tax fraud.

A police spokesman said: "This case is an excellent example of community policing in partnership.

"PC Cleal and PC White have comprehensively dealt with a problem which has been a drain on police resources for many years.

"The fraud investigation was complex and far beyond that which uniformed officers would normally be expected to investigate.

''Indeed were it not for their diligence at the time of arrest the fraud offences would never have come to light."

The man was sentenced to 80 hours community service, costs with compensation awards to his neighbours and an indefinite restraining order for six counts of harassment.

In May 2000 the fraud offences came to court where a guilty plea was made to 12 offences, for which he received a suspended prison sentence of two years. A compensation order of £15,500 was also made.

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