Southminster: Court order for man after two-year harassment campaign

A Southminster man who mounted a two-year campaign of harassment has been handed a five-year criminal behaviour order following an investigation by Maldon Neighbourhood Policing Team.

This comes on top of a five-year restraining order, an 18-week suspended prison sentence and a £650 fine imposed on Peter Rushton on 11 June 2025 after he was found guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in his absence of criminal damage, causing harassment without violence and failing to comply with a community protection notice.

The 43-year-old, from North End, had ignored a series of warnings as his activities escalated and he failed to turn up to his trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in March.

On 3 September, Southend magistrates granted a police application for a five-year criminal behaviour order against Rushton.

A criminal behaviour order is used to address persistent anti-social behaviour following a conviction, while a restraining order is designed to protect specific victims from further harassment or fear of violence.

Breaches of either court order can result in an offender being jailed or fined.

Investigating officer PC Luke Jones worked with Maldon District Council on the case. He says:

“This was a neighbourhood dispute which got out of control. Rushton conducted a sustained campaign of abuse and harassment against the couple over two years, breaching a Community Protection Warning and a Community Protection Notice as he did so, which caused them acute distress.
“He used a home-fitted CCTV device to monitor the victims, playing alarms and bombarding them with abuse when they returned home and he even damaged an aviary.
“I worked with Maldon District Council to tackle the situation from several angles, with noise complaints managed by the council.
“I hope this case demonstrates that we take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and will work with partners to find long-term solutions.
"I urge anyone who is experiencing anti-social behaviour to report it to us either online via our website or by ringing 101. If you wish to report it anonymously, contact the independent Crimestoppers charity.”

The conditions of the five-year criminal behaviour order include that Rushton must not:

• cause damage to any property belonging to his two victims
• send any correspondence – email or paper-based – to them
• throw anything into the victims’ garden or on their house
• spray any water at their property or spray any substance at their property or vehicles
• harass, assault, abuse or intimidate any person, including members of the emergency services, that shall include use of any insulting words or gestures, or behave in any way that may cause harassment, alarm or distress
• use abusive, offensive, threatening or intimidating behaviour or language in the neighbourhood
• threaten a person with violence and/or be verbally abusive towards any person anywhere
• use threatening or abusive words or behaviour, or any form of violence, towards any person
• threaten any person with violence and / or be verbally abusive towards any person in the neighbourhood
• use abusive, offensive, threatening or intimidating language or behaviour in the neighbourhood

Anti-social behaviour can affect not just individuals but neighbourhoods and communities, too. If you're experiencing anti-social behaviour or you see or hear about anti-social behaviour issues, we want you to report it to us so that we can work with our partners to resolve them.

You can report incidents of anti-social behaviour online, where you can also use Live Chat, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alternatively, ring 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or on 0800 555 111. If someone is at risk of harm, call 999.

If you’ve been a victim of anti-social behaviour, or any crime, and are feeling mentally impacted by it, contact Victim Support on 0808 1689 111.

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