A North London woman who played loud music for seven hours continuously through the night has been taken to court and fined over £8,000 after enraging neighbours.
The marathon music session reportedly included the 2019 Alaina Castillo track I Don’t Think I Love You Anymore, which may reflect her feelings towards Brent Council after she was ordered to pay £8,665 in court.
The Alperton resident, referred to as Ms A, was taken to court after repeatedly disturbing neighbours and breaching a noise abatement notice that had been issued to her last year.
The nuisance had been recorded and submitted to Brent Council’s Noise App, which was used as evidence against the woman during the hearing.
Despite receiving a formal noise abatement notice in September 2024, the “disruptive behaviour” continued. At the court hearing on April 10, the magistrates’ bench highlighted the “extended duration” of the noise, supported by the multiple recordings and reports by neighbours.
Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills, said: “This is a substantial fine, reflecting the severity of the breach and the impact it has on neighbours – no one should have to endure this kind of disruption.”
The council has encouraged residents experiencing regular noise disturbances and other nuisances to report them through the app.
A nuisance within the meaning of the law is a noise, smoke, dust, smell or artificial light, that “really interferes with your right to enjoy your home”. It must be considered to be unreasonable to the “average person” and something that is more than just an annoyance.
Brent Council has said that it will usually take action against persistent disturbances from nuisances, including loud music; bonfire smoke; noisy DIY at unreasonable times; constant dog barking; alarms; glare from light sources; and smells from commercial premises. It will not deal with noise from ordinary domestic activities, groups of people talking in the garden, or rail works.
An investigation will be opened if the incident is either so significant that it affects many residents and businesses, if it is deemed a high risk by the police, or three to four incidents are reported within a four-week period.
