A VULNERABLE war hero and his wife were forced out of their own home while enduring months of harassment from their two next door neighbours, a court heard yesterday.

Second World War fighter pilot Kenneth Trelfer, who is partially deaf and blind, and his wife, Vera, suffered verbal abuse and stone-throwing from two men at their home in High Street, Catterick Village, North Yorkshire.

The elderly couple were yesterday able to breath a sigh of relief knowing both offenders had been bound over to keep the peace at Richmond Magistrates Court.

Gary Steel, 39, who rented the house next door to the Trelfers, and John Rutherford, 36, of Albert Road, Bedale, pleaded guilty to the harassment charges.

Prosecution barrister Ian Bradshaw said: "Mr and Mrs Trelfer actually left the house at one point to get away from it all."

He said the couple were happy for the two men to be bound over if they were allowed to lead a peaceful life.

During the war Mrs Trelfer worked as a nurse and Mr Trelfer enlisted with the RAF, flying 30 missions over Germany. Last year the couple, who are both in their eighties, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Their problems with Mr Steel and Mr Rutherford began in August when an extractor pipe from the house Mr Steel rented came into the Trelfer's conservatory. She complained to the police about hearing abusive language and having notes pushed through the pipe.

Yesterday Mrs Trelfer said: "I am just relieved that it is all over. It has been months of hell for both of us.

"I just don't know why they did it in the first place.

"My husband can't cope and so I am left to deal with the situation myself. I had always thought of myself as quite a tough person, but now I am not so sure."