A man posted cat feaces through through his neighbours' letter box and scratched an expletive into their car after their cats allegedly killed his birds.
Izaak Bradbury's campaign of harassment was so bad the couple ended up installing CCTV costing £1,100 to catch him in the act and changed their route home so they wouldn't have to pass by the 29-year-old's property, a court heard.
They also said they lost three of their cats "in mysterious circumstances".
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre were told Bradbury's behaviour started last June, in the quiet Staffordshire Moorlands village where he and his victims live.
Prosecutor Angela Trafford said: "During the summer of 2021, both victims started to have problems with the defendant. He was accusing their cats of killing his birds.
"The defendant attended their home address and was very aggressive towards the female injured party. His comments caused her such distress that she called the police.
"He said things like he would break her neck like her cat had done to his birds. She said she tried to reason with him but couldn't, so shut the door."
Following this incident, the male victim found an offensive word scratched on his car and cat faeces was posted through their letter box.
Ms Trafford said: "This behaviour culminated in the victims having to install CCTV at a cost of £1,100. The police spoke to Mr Bradbury and the victims hoped the CCTV would cease his behaviour. Unfortunately, it did not."
In a statement read in court, the female victim said: "The ongoing harassment my husband and I have had to endure has had a financial and emotional impact.
"On several occasions, he has verbally abused us and forced cat faeces through the cat flap. An established willow tree has been killed. We have lost three cats in very mysterious circumstances.
"I now lock and chain the door while I am at home alone. We come home a different way to avoid passing his home."
Bradbury, from Wetton, pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment covering a six-month period.
The court heard he had previously received a community order for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which was still in place when some of the harassment happened.
"In December, when it had snowed, he walked outside their address and wrote 'Pervs' in the snow with his foot.
"Two days later, he threw cat faeces towards their vehicles and greenhouse. A few days later, he could be seen throwing cat faeces at their car."
Paige Morgan, mitigating, said Bradbury had acted 'on impulse'. "Mr Bradbury had 24 birds, 10 of which he lost due to his neighbours' cats. He was very upset and angry about this. These were impulsive actions.
"He was going through a difficult period at the time due to Covid and his grandfather, who has since passed away, was unwell. There have been no further incidents in recent months and he has kept well away from the victims in this case."
Magistrates said, due to the nature and seriousness of the offences, they wanted a report about Bradbury from the Probation Service to help them decide how to sentence him.
The case was adjourned to allow this and Bradbury will learn his fate on June 7.
Ms Trafford applied for a restraining order to be made to prevent Bradbury having any contact with the victims, which will be considered at the next hearing.
