A NIGHTMARE neighbour terrorised the family next door, repeatedly throwing insults and making threats to kill them, a court was told.

Aleksander Perzylo is accused of harassing neighbours Grace and Andrew Currie over a number of years and was said to have set up a camera in his house to watch over the family.

The 71-year-old, who denies the charge, was also said to have threatened the family on one occasion, saying: "I'll kill them all - I'm ex-SAS, I would know how to do it."

In evidence from the prosecution, South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Perzylo had repeatedly shouted derogatory statements at the family as well as their builder Steve Cotter from his house in Barrow's Rating lane.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told magistrates the harassment had been 'sustained' over a three-year period.

Giving evidence Grace Currie said the dispute had flared after work done on the Perzylos' house resulted in a fence moved one foot into her land.

The court was shown photos taken by the Curries' builder, who was working on the house, which appeared to show a video camera set up to spy on their house.

Mrs Currie claimed the camera was used to look into the kitchen and was later moved to spy on the garden.

Recounting threats from her neighbour, she said Mr Perzylo once told her: "Wait till I see you on a dark night."

Mrs Currie said living next door to the defendant had been 'horrendous'.

She told magistrates: "I want to leave because of him, but I'm torn because it is near my daughter's school.

"It has been horrendous.

"The garden is meant to be a place for my daughter but I don't let her in there since the camera."

The court was played a 999 call made by a terrified Mrs Currie who said her neighbour had been stood on his driveway threatening to kill the family.

Court-appointed cross examiner David Manwaring explained to her the defendant used the camera for birdwatching.

The trail was adjourned after the defendant said he was unfit for the hearing after struggling with his breathing and called for an ambulance.

He was taken to Furness General Hospital as a precaution.

The trial will continue next week when magistrates reconvene for the defence case on November 11.

Mr Perzylo had asked the court to adjourn the previous day to allow for his health problems, saying he was unable to take in information having taken his medication that morning.

Magistrates decided to grant an adjournment until next week after being advised it was in the interests of justice to do so.

That was despite prosecutor Lee Dacre urging the bench to go ahead with the hearing without the defendant, arguing he had chosen to absent himself from the trial. Mr Perzylo and his wife Joyce are still to give evidence.