A widow was close to suicide after being harassed by her neighbour, a court heard.

Pamela Horsfall, of St Austell Road, St John's estate, Colchester, struggled to hold back tears as she told magistrates at Harwich how John Henson had sworn and spat at her.

Mrs Horsfall said she nursed her terminally-ill husband for three years before his death, after which she became a target for Henson's abuse.

She said: "It only started after my husband died. I think it was because I had no-one to stand up for me."

The court heard on Wednesday how Henson, 69, of St Austell Road, spat at Mrs Horsfall twice in the street and called her "the scum of the earth".

On another occasion he shouted "What's that awful smell around here" as she stood talking with two other neighbours.

He then added "Look she's got bodyguards now."

Mrs Horsfall, said she had thought about killing herself because of the harassment and Henson had commented to his wife in front of Mrs Horsfall: "She hasn't done it yet then."

She added that sometimes she walked a longer route to go shopping in order to avoid Henson.

Henson's barrister Lyall Thompson claimed Mrs Horsfall was exaggerating the situation because of her emotional state following her husband's death.

Mrs Horsfall denied the claim and added: "I haven't had time to grieve over my husband's death, he's taken that right away from me. He has made my life hell."

Henson denied a charge of harassment between July 2 and August 31 but was found guilty by magistrates.

He was ordered to pay Mrs Horsfall £200 compensation and magistrates imposed a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting her.

Henson was also ordered to pay £150 court costs but the sentences were suspended pending a crown court appeal against his conviction.

He had denied the charge and told the court he had not had any contact with Mrs Horsfall since February.

He added she was "a compulsive liar".

Henson claimed Mrs Horsfall had shouted and sworn at him on one occasion but he ignored her and walked away.

Picture, top: Pamela Horsfall - her neighbour is appealing against conviction.

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