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Aspiring singer left locals unable to sleep by 'wailing like a banshee' at £500k flat
A NIGHTMARE neighbour has dodged jail after breaching an order NINE TIMES for terrorising residents by singing at her £500,000 flat.
Wannabe singer Sandrine Lester, 48, admitted ignoring the criminal behaviour order handed down on January 9 – just six days later blasting loud music as she shouted and “wailed like a banshee”.
The aspiring songstress also banged on her neighbour Jeremy Edwards’ door several times shouting “f**k off, f**k off, f**k off”.
He recorded the nightmarish sounds coming from Ms Lester’s windows at her first-floor pad in Kew, west London on March 15.
Wimbledon Magistrates' Court heard how she would play loud music sometimes for an hour-and-a-half at a time while belting out her own made-up lyrics.
Some of the lines included: “Everybody give a round of applause. Everybody shout. Woo!”
The riotous resident yelled in court: “But I am not a violent person” as she received her sentence yesterday.
Prosecutor Laura Strachan-Taylor said: "There were nine breaches and convictions after being given a criminal behaviour order.
Even when she doesn't make any noise, we're constantly on edge in case she starts again.
"This is the highest end of convictions. Yes, the culpability is not serious, but it's persistent.
"Ms Lester poses a continued risk of anti-social behaviour."
Fed-up neighbour Tom Oliver, 24, said: “She had a voice like a wailing banshee.”
Mr Edwards said in a victim impact statement that he, his wife and daughter have lost sleep over their ordeal.
He said: "Even when she doesn't make any noise, we're constantly on edge in case she starts again.
"We can't relax. This breach in behaviour not only impacts sleep but also work and study."
The prosecutor recommended a minimum of two years imprisonment.
Gerard Kinch, defending, said: "I accept yes this was annoying but I do not see this so bad that it warrants a custodial sentence.
"I don't set out to minimise the behaviour but I would not say it was the worst behaviour of its kind.
Ms Lester has a problem with alcohol. Fearing the prospect of losing her flat prompted her to consume too much alcohol.
"Ms Lester has a problem with alcohol. Fearing the prospect of losing her flat prompted her to consume too much alcohol."
The court heard the 48-year-old describes herself as self-employed, she was also given an allowance of £1000 by her father who lives in France.
On 24 July, Lester moved to a terraced house in Hersham, Surrey, finally leaving her Kew neighbours in peace.
She has since completed an alcohol treatment requirement attached to a previous court order.
Magistrate Timothy Harrison said: "These are persistent and willful breaches of court orders.
"On 9 January, you were given a order by this court. And yet on the 15 January you were again creating a disturbance.
"The order would have been very fresh and you would have been warned.
"For each of the breaches, this does pass the custody threshold."
Lester was handed a six months prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £300 in court costs and a surcharge of £122 to be paid in instalments of £100 a month.
Mr Harrison added: "Let me be clear. If you create a disturbance and are brought back to court, the prison sentence will be activated and you will go inside."
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