A MAN who ran a 24-hour party house was described as the worst offender that noise investigators had ever come across, a court was told.

Day and night, the volume of music was so loud that one neighbour was forced to move house to get some peace from the noise blasting from the house in Albourne Green, Middlesbrough.

Craig Allison, 36, pleaded guilty to three charges of creating a noise nuisance when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday, despite saying he was no longer the tenant of the address in January when the offences were committed.

Investigators seized thousands of pounds worth of stereo and electrical equipment when they raided the terraced house on January 28, but two days later they called again when the music returned, the court heard.

Steve Vickers, for Middlesbrough Council, said noise levels up to 60 decibels had been recorded at the house during the investigation

"This is one of the most serious case they have ever had to deal with. The noise disturbance was to such an extent that one neighbour was forced to move to get peace of mind," he said.

Among the goods seized were turntable decks, speakers, microphones, an amplifier, a mix desk, televisions and stereos, none of which was reclaimed by Allison.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said Allison, now of Amberley Green, Pallister Park, was only the legal tenant of the property until July last year, but had still tried to prevent the non-stop parties.

He said: "He has tried to stop this noise which was beyond his control. He has been the victim of violence from some individuals using the house and he still bears the scars from this intervention."

He added: "The evidence seems to suggest it's a gang of youths causing the problems for the neighbours."

Fining Allison £500 and ordering him to pay £250 towards cost, bench chairman Ken Smith said: "It was a considerable nuisance, 60 decibels is a lot of noise. It is actually becomes physically painful."

Speaking after the hearing, Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for community safety, said: "Noise nuisance can seriously affect people's peace of mind and even their health. It is good to see the courts taking an appalling case like this seriously."

Anyone suffering problems with noisy neighbours can ring Middlesbrough Council's noise patrol team on (01642) 726050.