A FORMER Hell’s Angel who made the lives of neighbouring family a misery during months of harassment has been made a subject of a five year criminal behaviour order.

It is the second time so-called 'neighbour from hell' David Constantine has appeared in court for making life an ordeal for those living next door to him.

Consett magistrates today imposed the order - aimed at tackling the most serious and persistent offenders - to protect any future neighbours the 68-year-old may have.

Under the order he is prohibited from cause or commit harassment, alarm or distress by shouting at others, swearing, using verbal abuse, playing music or making noises, from any address where he lives "or to any other person by any means".

Constantine first made national headlines after he stabbed himself in the chest on New Year's Eve 2007 and tried to frame his neighbour while living in Lanchester, County Durham.

After moving to nearby Esh Winning in April 2014 he soon reverted back to his old ways, repeatedly shouting abuse at his new neighbours and being noisy, magistrates were told.

The couple’s daughters, aged three and five, were too frightened to play in their garden – and knowing Constantine’s history the parents feared he would make false allegations against them too.

Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, said Constantine would repeatedly bang on the walls of his property, slam his door repeatedly shouting 'f***' through the walls and directing abusive words at the couple’s two young children.

Interviewed by police, Constantine denied all the allegations, saying he was the one who was being harassed and that he wanted “the quiet life”.

In a victim impact statement, the wife said: “Since David Constantine moved in next door, he has made our lives hell.

“We feel we are prisoners in our own home and are living on a knife-edge. We are continually trying to keep the kids quiet and stopping them from playing normally. ”

Magistrates were told Constantine had been convicted at Teesside Crown Court in 2008 for the harassment of his neighbours in Lanchester.

Mrs Traynor said: “The defendant alleged his neighbour had inflicted grievous bodily harm on him. The neighbour was arrested for attempted murder, but no further action was taken as it was deemed, following medical evidence, that the injuries were self-inflicted.”

Nick Musgrove, mitigating, said the latest allegations were not a case of “constant or weekly incidents” and there had been there had been periods of calm.

He said: "It has been an unpleasant experience for the injured parties, but that said it not an allegation where it has has escalated into violence."

Constantine, who suffered health problems, had sold his house at a loss, he added.

Constantine, who gave his latest address as "care of" Greencroft Avenue, Delves Lane, near Consett, entered a late plea of guilty to harassment without violence between April 2014 and April this year.

He was sentenced to community order of 12 months with a supervision requirement. Also ordered to pay £300 in compensation for the psychological stress caused to the victims and £100 in costs.